Celeste did her best to seem pleased that God’s new city was the only city on Earth not affected by this new and surprising Gnol invasion, but the hole in her heart for her missing son was too much to bear. The tears began streaming again as she looked into Kevin’s eyes. “Th-they took Calum, Kevin. My baby. H-he’s gone.”
Guilt suddenly replaced the joy that had been on Kevin’s face. “I-I’m sorry, Celeste. I-I had no idea.”
“It’s not your fault,” she replied, glancing past him and at the second jet that was flown in by the two strange pilots, standing silently in the background.
“We need to take one of your ships,” Celeste demanded as she began to charge past Kevin.
Jake reached out and grabbed her arm before she could get too far. “Wait, we can’t just go flying into space. The Gnols are swarming the planet, and I’m pretty sure that Nighthawk is no match for your father’s new mother ship.”
Anger erupted in Celeste’s voice. “No, Jake! I’m going!” she cried, ripping her arm from his grip. She then pointed to the sky. “That’s our child up there with those monsters! I can’t bear the fact that he will grow up thinking that Koroan Chast and Macaria are his parents! I just can’t! I’d rather he die than grow up under their care. I can’t even imagine the kind of person he will become!”
She then tried to run for the Nighthawk before Jake could grab her again. But the emotion was simply too much for her to bear. Her legs became weak, and her knees buckled. She dropped to the ground in a sobbing heap of despair.
Jake’s strong, comforting hands caressed her shoulders and lifted her to her feet. She turned and buried her head into his chest. “We need to save him, Jake.”
“I know,” Jake said. “But we need a plan. I promise you, I will get him back.”
Celeste looked at him, comforted a little.
Jake masked the grief on his face with a smile. “C’mon. Let’s go to the shelter.”
After everyone gathered in the bomb shelter where Anyta, Kylee, and Lexis were, Jake relayed the details of what happened to Kevin, Chris, and the two pilots. Celeste sat nearby alone on a cot, obviously distraught while he explained the return of Koroan and Macaria, a new serum to counteract their abilities, and Nichelle’s treachery.
Kevin and Chris sat on the same cot, listening intently. It was obvious that both men were stunned that Nichelle could betray her best friend.
After Jake finished, Kylee asked, “What about John? Is he hiding out in Zion as well?”
Kevin and Chris glanced at one another, each man with a knowing expression of concern on his face.
“Well?” Kylee demanded.
“We’re not sure,” Chris answered before Kevin could.
“What do you mean you’re not sure?” Celeste asked angrily, jumping up from the cot.
Chris, with a surprised look on his face, replied, “John assisted with the evacuation. He was the one who was able to grant us access to Zion. Without his access to the city, the personnel and civilian population at the base wouldn’t have been able to get in.”
“So where is he? Why isn’t he with you? We need him to get Calum back,” Celeste said harshly.
The look on Chris’s face infuriated Celeste even more. It was obvious that the only man on Earth capable of helping them through this crisis had abandoned them when they needed him most.
“He’s been summoned to a higher calling, Celeste,” Kevin interrupted before Chris could respond.
“A higher calling?” Celeste questioned with indignation. “You know who Calum is and what he is destined to become.”
“I-I am sorry, Celeste,” Kevin apologized, obviously intimidated by Celeste’s commanding presence.
Celeste charged toward him, jabbing her forefinger into his chest. “This is your fault!” she shouted. She then pointed at everyone else in the room. “I thought your God was supposed to protect us! If Calum is truly what you claim him to be, then why would your God allow this?”
Before she could lash out any further, Jake gathered her in his arms and led her back to the cot, sat down with her, and held her. Celeste’s body shivered as she sobbed in his arms. Jake then looked intently at his uncle. “What happened to John?”
Kevin sighed. “As soon as everyone was safe in Zion, he pulled me aside and told me that it was his time to leave. He said that the prophecy that he had foretold millennia ago was about to be fulfilled.”
“What prophecy?” Anyta asked.
“The one that foretold that he would not taste of death until the return of our Lord and Savior. That was the last thing he said to me. I then watched him walk into the temple, which had just been completed. After he was in the temple for a few moments, a blinding white light shot down from the sky, hit the top steeple, and entered the Holy of Holies. My guess is that his earthly mission is complete, and he was called to a higher calling.”
Jake, still comforting Celeste as she sobbed, again looked at his uncle with determination. “Well, I guess we have no other choice. Will you help me get my son back?”
Before anyone could reply, an old transistor radio set up for emergency communications came alive.
CHAPTER 13: THE CHAMBER
Aztec Ruins, Teotihuacan, Mexico . . .
“How many are there, Dad?” Bantyr asked, lying next to his father and hidden in the rubble of the nearby city of San Juan, which rested on the outskirts of the ancient Aztec ruins. Bantyr was busy putting together a sniper rifle.
Adrian, peering through his binoculars, replied, “Dorange isn’t dead. He’s there along with one of his lieutenants. I’m also counting twenty-five other Gnol troops. They’ve captured Skip, Jennifer, and Tim. They’re tied to two palm trees, sitting with their hands behind their backs.” Adrian then pulled the binoculars away from his eyes and turned to Sage, who sat behind them in the small room of the partially destroyed building. Sage was fiddling with an old transistor radio. “Any luck with that thing?”
“This human technology is archaic, but it’s the only way to contact Jake and Celeste, since all of our communications are being jammed. Give me a few more minutes.”
Adrian nodded and sighed. He pulled the satchel wrapped around his shoulder, which held the gold plate of Gnolom, tightly to his body. He then looked through the binoculars again. “I don’t see Eli anywhere.”
“He’s probably dead,” Bantyr said.
Adrian nodded his agreement without responding. “My guess is Dorange is holding Skip and the others as bargaining chips. From what Skip told me, they need Gnolom’s gold plate to open those doors they found below the Pyramid of the Sun.”
“Dad,” Bantyr said with concern in his voice, “it’s a trap. You can’t go walking into their camp. As soon as you turn over the gold plate, he’ll kill you, and then Skip, Jennifer, and Tim.”
Adrian shook his head. “I disagree. Knowing Dorange, he’ll take me with him into that chamber. His ego has always been his biggest weakness. He won’t kill me right away. That will be too easy. He will want to relish his victory once he gains possession of Earth’s gold plate. Then after that, he’ll kill me.”
Bantyr, not amused by his father’s lack of concern for his life, responded, “It’s not a joke, Dad. You’re betting your life, along with the others, on an assumption.”
“Don’t worry, Bantyr,” Sage said before Adrian could reply. “Your father is right about Dorange. I served under Dorange my entire Gnol military career. Dorange craves power and revenge more than any person I have ever known. He is not satisfied with death. He wants his victims to suffer defeat and humiliation. He wants them to die knowing that they have been a witness to his victory. I have seen him torture slaves and Gnols alike just to prove his superiority and the simple fact that he takes pleasure in seeing the misery of others. Dorange will want to do that to your father. He will want to see your father’s face after he has won.” Sage paused and then continued with a small laugh. “Then he will kill him.”
Bantyr, again not amused, tu
rned his angry gaze back to his father. “It’s not funny, Dad.”
Adrian’s smile disappeared as he placed a comforting hand on his son’s shoulder. “It will be okay, Bantyr. Just stick to the plan. . . . I promise you I will be okay.”
Bantyr nodded his head begrudgingly as he turned his attention back to the sniper rifle.
Adrian watched him for a few seconds. “Don’t worry. Chris is the best sniper I know. You won’t miss,” he said, referring to the training Chris Peterson had given Bantyr when they were still at Scott Air Force Base. At the time, John thought that it would be a good idea for Bantyr to be trained as a sniper in case the need arose. When they moved to Kwajalein, Bantyr continued to practice, becoming quite proficient at picking off targets as far as a mile away. In this case, the Gnol troops ahead were only a half mile away.
Bantyr allowed a small smile on his face as he attached the scope to the rifle, finishing the preparation. Adrian then turned back to Sage. “How soon?”
“I think I just about got it,” Sage replied, adjusting a few knobs on the device. He then spoke into the speaker. “Emergency broadcast code - seven, niner, two, zulu, three. Do you copy?” he said, referring to the emergency code designated to the location for which he was trying to reach.
They listened for a few minutes as static crackled through the old device.
Sage tried again. “Emergency code - seven, niner, two, zulu, three. Do you copy?”
Again, static crackled through the eerie silence within the rubble of the partially destroyed building. “Emergency code seven, niner, two, zulu, three . . . do you copy?”
Sage waited a few more seconds as the static crackled. He was about to try again when the static clicked and popped and the vague voice of Jake Palmer crackled through. “S . . . ge, copy. Authentication code - eight, apple, zulu, one, six, four, seven.”
Relief poured over Adrian after hearing his son’s voice. He yanked the speaker away before Sage could reply. “Jake, are you okay? What about Celeste and Calum? Dorange is alive and the Gnols are back.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the radio. “Jake . . . do you copy?”
Jake replied, his voice full of emotion. Although he did his best to hide it, Adrian could tell that something was wrong. “Koroan’s not dead.”
Adrian, stunned, stumbled backwards and sat down on a pile of rubble before he fell down. “Koroan’s alive?”
“Yes, and Macaria is with him,” Jake replied through the static.
“Wha . . . how?”
“Macaria is possessing Ciminae’s body.”
Adrian gazed at Sage, perplexed, looking for an answer. Sage looked back at him with the same confused expression and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t understand,” Adrian said. “How is that possible?”
Jake relayed his theory to his dad and then went on to explain Koroan’s surprise attack. He also explained how Nichelle had betrayed them.
“I can’t believe it,” Adrian responded. “Not Nichelle.”
“Once we are back to full strength, Celeste and I are going after Calum.”
Adrian paused for a long time before replying, “You can’t, Jake. Koroan and Macaria are too powerful. And with this new antidote to make you human again, you and Celeste won’t stand a chance.”
“We . . . we have to try, Dad. We would rather die than know Calum is being raised by two evil monsters.”
Adrian knew his son was right. After all, he would do the same if any of his children were in the same situation. “I know, son. Be careful. And I love you.”
“I will, Dad, and I love you too.”
“Let me talk to Anyta,” Adrian said, keeping his emotions in check.
Anyta’s voice came through the static. “Adrian?”
“Oh, it’s good to hear your voice,” he said.
“Yours too,” Anyta replied, her voice full of emotion.
“How are Kylee and Lexis?”
“They’re fine. Lexis is a little shaken up, but we’ve been through worse.”
Adrian allowed a small smile to creep along his lips. “That’s for sure.” He then paused for a few seconds. “Listen, Anyta, I’m going to meet Dorange with Gnolom’s gold plate.”
“No, you can’t. . . Come back to us. We’ll go to Zion. . . It-It’s safe there. Leave. You know the moment Dorange gets what he wants, he will kill you.”
“It’s the only way to save Skip and the others. Also, if I don’t do this, Zion may not be around for long.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the radio. Static crackled and popped through the receiver. “I know. I-I just can’t bear the thought of losing you.”
“You won’t,” Adrian said. He then relayed the plan to his wife.
“Promise me Bantyr will be safe,” Anyta said with conviction.
Adrian knew that he couldn’t promise her the safety of their son, but he would do his best to keep his son safe. “I will. I love you, Anyta.”
“I love you too,” Anyta said.
“Can I talk to Kylee and Lexis?” he then asked.
After saying his good-byes to his two daughters, Adrian clicked the radio off and stood up, making sure the satchel carrying Gnolom’s gold plate was secure. He then handed Bantyr his pistol and two daggers.
“You’re going in unarmed?” Bantyr asked, concern all over his expression.
“Dorange is intelligent. He’ll know something’s up. But if I go in there unarmed, he’ll feel safer. That’s what we want. Hopefully, it will lower his guard.”
Bantyr stood up from his position behind the sniper rifle and hugged his dad. “Be careful.”
Adrian squeezed Bantyr tightly. “I will. I promise. Just make sure you take out as many troops as you can. The less troops left alive, the better chance we have of this plan working.”
Bantyr pulled away, his eyes beginning to flood with tears. Adrian then turned to Sage, placing a hand on the large Gnol’s left shoulder. “Take care of him.”
Sage nodded in respect. “I will.”
Adrian made eye contact with his son again, turned, and walked out into the scorching midday subtropical sun. As he walked toward the Gnol camp, his feet crunching over the gravel and rubble of the destroyed town, he couldn’t help but think this would be the last time he would see Bantyr or hear from the rest of the ones he truly loved.
*****
Even though Skip had a thick blanket of dark, coarse hair, he could feel the sun baking his head as he sat wearily on the ground. Sweat poured from his temples, dripping thick droplets onto the dirt ground. His back rested uncomfortably against the rough bark of a palm tree with his hands tied securely with plastic ties behind the tree. His lips were dry and cracked and his throat parched from no water. The experience reminded him of when he was a prisoner within the Zikf slave camp on Terrest.
Through blurred vision, he glanced over at Jennifer and Tim, who were both tied to a nearby tree. Tim looked to be sleeping, at least trying to rest. But Jennifer looked distraught. From her expression, he could tell that despair had set in. He turned his gaze from Jennifer and looked at Dorange, who was talking to Major Washantu. Out of the corner of his eye, Dorange caught Skip staring at him. He nodded to his major and then turned and looked at Skip.
Skip’s stomach lurched. The expression on Dorange Gar’s face was one of undeniable evil and determination. Dorange made a beeline toward him. Once he arrived, he knelt down to Skip’s level and backhanded him across the face. Pain exploded over the right side of his face from the combination of the smack and his sunburned skin.
“How soon did Adrian say he and Sage would arrive?”
Skip stared at the monster kneeling over him for a long moment before answering. Dorange backhanded him again. “Answer me!”
Skip, ignoring the pain, decided to come back with a snide remark. “Patience certainly isn’t your strong suit, is it?”
The question infuriated Dorange, causing him to backhand Skip again, but this time, with a
little more of his Gnol strength. Skip felt his eye slice open, and blood began to trickle down from the wound. “Do not mock me!” Dorange roared. “I could kill you with one more blow if I wanted.”
Skip did not fear death, which gave him the strength to stare indignantly at Dorange with defiance. “Then do it!” Skip yelled back, spitting in Dorange’s face.
Dorange screamed, raising a clenched fist above his head. He held it there for a few moments before lowering it back to his side. He then raised it and held his hand just a few inches from Skip’s throat. “It is so tempting, but I need you alive.”
Skip glowered at Dorange in silence. He didn’t disagree with his capture. He knew that he and his friends were in an uncompromising situation and the only way out was by Adrian giving himself up with Gnolom’s gold plate.
Dorange stared at Skip for a long moment. Just as he was about to stand up, Major Washantu yelled from behind him, pointing at a man arriving from the distance. “General!”
Dorange turned and looked. Skip squinted through the bright sunlight. Unsurprisingly, he knew the man approaching slowly with his hands raised above his head in surrender. Adrian was dressed in camouflage battle fatigues with a tan satchel strapped over his right shoulder, secured snugly against his left hip.
“Adrian,” Dorange whispered vengefully.
Two Gnols with plasma rifles raised and pointed rushed toward Adrian, who stopped with his hands still raised. Then Adrian pulled the satchel from his shoulder and gave it to one of the Gnols. The other Gnol grabbed Adrian forcefully and secured his hands behind his back. He then checked Adrian for any other weapons.
The Gnols led Adrian to Dorange as the other Gnol who was carrying the satchel followed behind closely. Dorange stood a few feet away from Skip, waiting for his prey to arrive. Skip glanced at Jennifer and Tim once again. Tim was wide awake now, fear covering his badly burned face. Jennifer continued to have the same pained expression over her face as before.
Worlds Without End: The Prophecy (Book 3) Page 26