From The Deep

by From the Deep (anthology) [lit]

  “Had an accident?” she cooed.

  Roman shrugged. “Nothing life threatening.”

  Helena’s two brothers moved up to flank her. They presented a united front.

  “Tell us the location of the treasure.”

  Roman shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “It’s possible you might change your mind,” Helena cooed again.

  Roman didn’t like the orca’s reaction. Too controlled. Not a hint of her normal fiery temper. “I don’t think so.”

  “Not even if you learned that we have your girlfriend?” one of Helena’s brothers said.

  Asia? But how did they know?

  His brother stepped up beside Helena and her brothers. His own brother. “You should never have become involved with a Transient, Roman. Traitor.”

  * * * *

  Roman stared through the bars that covered the grubby window, his fear for Asia making his stomach roil. He didn’t care what they did to him, but he couldn’t bear the thought of Asia being dragged into the middle of his fight with Helena. They were lying. They had to be. Asia’s family wouldn’t allow them to harm her. He paced over to the door, and even though he knew it was locked, he tried to open it again. Sparse light entered through the small window, enough that he could see from one side of the room to the other and know the room was secure. A generator hummed in the distance. Roman stalked the perimeter of the room, searching for a way to escape imprisonment. Finally, he dropped to the concrete floor and sat with his back pressed against the damp wall, trying to subdue his fear. Like an insidious beast, it writhed inside him until he tasted it. Smelled it. He had to face it--he was stuck here to kick his heels and await Helena’s decree on his fate. And there was nothing he could do to help Asia.

  Roman bounded to his feet. Dammit, he refused to give up. There had to be something he could do. Think! He glanced up and froze, his eyes widening. A manhole. A slow smile curled across his lips as he debated the best way to approach his escape attempt.

  The grate of a key in the lock pulled him from his contemplation. Roman sauntered closer to the door, every inch of him alert. Perhaps an easier way? He tensed ready to grab any opportunity that presented itself.

  The door creaked when it opened. A male with a thickset body slid through the gap and glanced over his shoulder before partially closing the door. Roman recognized the helicopter pilot.

  The orca handed Roman a plate of food. Raw fish. Despite hunger pangs, Roman ignored the food. “What’s happening?”

  “They’ve summoned everyone in the village to a meeting. Hurry, we don’t have much time. We have to get you out. You’re the only one who can stop this madness. They’re expecting me back as soon as I deliver the food.”

  “They’ll know you let me out.”

  The orca paused for an instant. “That can’t be helped. There’s no other alternative. We have to get you off the island.”

  Roman sorted through the scenarios available to him. He could swim, but that would take at least two days and he couldn’t take much in the way of luggage. Damn, he needed to deliver the treasure and that would take some of the heat out of Helena’s argument. Without the treasure there was less leverage. Obviously Helena hadn’t discovered that he’d shifted the treasure to a new location. Two others knew, and Roman hoped that they were safe and still held the same views he did--they needed that treasure for the good of the colony. “I don’t suppose you would fly me to the mainland?”

  The pilot’s dark eyes twinkled with sudden excitement. “An adventure,” he murmured. “Hell, yeah. I’m in!”

  “If Helena learns of your part in this she’ll make your life difficult,” Roman warned.

  The orca snorted with contempt. “She’s a greedy bitch getting off on power. She’ll ruin the paradise we have here if we let her.”

  “Good. Here’s what we’ll do to buy some time. See that manhole up there? Hoist me up, and I’ll escape through there. Then leave and lock the room. Go back to the meeting and pretend everything is all right. I’ll meet you over on the other side of the island by the helicopter.”

  The orca wasted no time in carrying out Roman’s suggestion. Roman pushed the manhole cover out of position and squeezed through. He signaled to the orca before sliding the cover back, but leaving it a fraction off center. Hopefully that would leave the pilot free of suspicion. It would be a difficult feat to get up to the manhole on his own, but not impossible for someone of his body strength. Making his way quietly through the crawl space between the roof and the ceiling, he slid the next manhole he came across aside.

  A body moved in the far corner of the room. “Who’s there?” a deep voice rumbled.

  Elation poured through Roman. He recognized the voice. Victor, one of his friends. “Roman. Care to break this joint?”

  Within seconds, Victor knelt beside him. “Good to see you, mate.”

  “Anyone else in here we should liberate?”

  “Yeah, Weed and Smith are here somewhere. Helena and her kooky brothers locked us up last week when we started to ask too many questions.”

  “Ah,” Roman murmured, giving his mate a wicked grin. “Just the orcas I need to kick some ass.”

  * * * *

  “I told you the orca was a low down pile of useless shit,” Luca snarled. “Good riddance, I say.”

  Asia bit back of a retort, knowing that was what Luca wanted. More of the same. As if she didn’t feel low enough already. Roman had walked away without a word. Intelligence from the rest of the tribe had informed her of Roman’s return to Auckland Island. Asia believed them despite the hurt engendered by his abandonment. They had no reason to lie.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything,” Luca prodded.

  “Piss off. Leave me alone.” Asia turned her back on her brother and walked into the apartment bedroom. Grabbing up a bag, she tossed underwear inside before yanking open the wardrobe.

  “What are you doing?” Luca demanded.

  “Packing.”

  “You’re not going to him?”

  Asia fumbled the bottle of shampoo and conditioner she’d retrieved from the bathroom. Heaven help her, but she wanted to go to Roman, even if it was just to punch him in the nose for hurting her so badly. “I’m going to the beach for the weekend. I’m tired after rehearsals this week.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  Not if she had anything to do with it. Asia threw a toilet bag inside her larger bag and zipped it closed. “I’ll drop you off at home before I leave,” she said firmly. Asia picked up her bag and left the apartment with Luca dogging her heels. Maybe she should have company at the house. Luca’s presence would stop her brooding. “I’ve changed my mind. You can come with me, but don’t mention Roman or we’ll have an argument, and I’ll toss you out.”

  Luca gave a curt nod. “I’ll drive.”

  “Fine.”

  As Asia suspected, the house was full of memories. She took one look at the double bed where they’d made love and decided to sleep in the spare room. “You sleep in here,” she muttered, averting her gaze and closing her mind to the memories of Roman’s mouth on hers and how it felt to join intimately. Asia swallowed the lump in her throat. A glass of wine. Too bad if it made her giggly. She could do with a good laugh. Luca had forced his company on her. He could deal with the consequences.

  Chapter Eight

  “I’m going for a swim,” Asia said. A man with a little hammer pounded away inside her head making her regret the amount of wine she’d consumed the night before.

  “I don’t think you should swim alone.”

  “Don’t push.” Asia jumped to her feet and immediately held her head with both hands. The bloody little man with his hammer had gone berserk. He had drummer aspirations.

  “How long will you be?”

  “As long as it takes,” Asia snapped. She left the house without looking back, stomping over black sand that was already warm beneath her bare feet. She winced at the bright sunlight. She was
never gonna drink again.

  At the high tide mark, she shed her clothes and left them where they fell. She ambled toward the water so she didn’t disturb the man with the hammer. The waves rushed to shore and receded. Asia breathed deeply in an effort to settle her churning tummy. The salty tang of the sea didn’t help her ailment much. Asia waded through the water until she was waist deep. She shifted and dived through the next wave that rushed to shore. The aches and pains faded as Asia swam lazily out to open water.

  * * * *

  Roman drove like a madman to Asia’s house on the beach. He’d hoped they’d find Asia at the apartment or the club. No such luck. The closer they got to Asia’s house, the deeper Roman’s concern. Instinct told him Asia was in extreme danger while frustration simmered through him because of the problems they’d had getting here. Three wasted days while they found a way to leave the island. Helena was probably already here, trying to block the sale of the treasure.

  Victor leaned over from the back seat. “Careful, mate. We want to arrive in one piece.”

  Roman slowed momentarily before forcing the accelerator closer to the floor. It wasn’t Victor’s fiancée in danger. The sedan’s wheels shrieked when he drove through an S-bend. The speedometer flickered upward as Roman pushed the car to its limits. He pulled up outside Asia’s house with a screech of brakes. The driver’s door flew open, and Roman sprinted from the car, leaving the engine running. He wrenched open the front door to Asia’s house and raced inside.

  “Asia!” Roman hurried from room to room. He checked the bedroom hoping Asia would be there. Someone stirred in the bed. Hope surged, then died. It wasn’t Asia. “Luca, where’s Asia?”

  Luca leapt from the bed and grabbed him by the throat so quickly that Roman didn’t have time to protect himself. He slammed up against the wall, with Luca gripping him around the throat. “Bastard. Leave my sister alone.”

  “Need some help there, Roman? The others are still in the car. You want me to get them?”

  Luca tensed on hearing Victor’s voice.

  “We’re not here to cause trouble,” Roman said. “Where’s Asia?”

  Luca scowled. “Out swimming.”

  “Alone? Shit! Listen, she’s in danger. Helena is after her. She knows I love Asia.”

  “Chicken shit, you left her standing at the courthouse. You walked out on her without a word. That’s not love.”

  “I love her,” Roman gritted out. Hell they didn’t have time for this crap. Asia was out swimming alone. “Call your family, all the members of your tribe. Please, she’s in danger. We need to work together. Both tribes.”

  “Well there’s a concept,” a feminine voice drawled from the doorway.

  Roman, Victor and Luca turned to face the matriarch of the Bolino tribe, Asia’s mother. Roman explained the situation and his fears.

  Asia’s mother listened and made her decision immediately. “Luca, call the tribe. Now.” Her son glared at Roman and Victor before he stomped from the bedroom. Asia’s mother ignored her son’s ill temper. “I assume that the members of your tribe will agree to a cessation of hostilities while we search for Asia.”

  “You have my word,” Roman said. Hurry up. Asia was in danger. He needed to find her, to hold her, to insure she was safe from Helena and the other rebels.

  “Excellent. Let us go.” Roman and Victor followed Asia’s mother as she hurried down to the beach. She calmly stripped and strode into the ocean, shifting as soon as the water was deep enough.

  Roman gestured for the other two to join them.

  “Well, mate,” Victor drawled, still staring after the orca cutting through the water. “I can see what the fuss is about, if your lady’s ass is as fine as her ma’s.”

  “You’re sick,” Weed said.

  “I can’t help it if I have a thing for older woman,” Victor said, a small smile playing on his lips.

  “Enough.” Roman cut through the crap. He glanced down the beach and saw others shifting and diving through the incoming waves. “The Bolino clan has arrived. I’ve given my word that we will hold the peace. No attacks or violence toward the Bolinos. Save it for Helena and the rebels.”

  They tore off their clothes and dropped them on the sand. Roman sprinted in the water and shifted seamlessly. He sucked in a breath and dived beneath the water, casting out a series of soft vocal clicks. Victor, Weed, and the pilot swam nearby. They answered and fanned out to cover a wider area. On his right, another series of clicks indicated that Asia’s family and tribe were calling for her.

  They’d find Asia before Helena got to her. There was no other alternative.

  * * * *

  Asia swam aimlessly without a specific destination in mind. She allowed the cool water to soothe her aching head and only surfaced when necessary. The angle of the seabed deepened and seaweed waved gently with the current. Schools of fish darted in and out of the rock formations, shying away from her in case she was hunting. Asia ignored them but found it difficult to ignore the loneliness that swept over her without warning. Roman had crept into her heart and his leaving had left a gaping hole that continued to bleed. She didn’t understand what had happened to make him leave. She’d tried to contact him via satellite phone but none of the calls were answered. Screening his calls no doubt.

  A gray shape swam in front of her before disappearing behind rocks. Asia hesitated but when it didn’t reappear she relaxed, continuing on her lazy meandering journey through the valley created by the huge boulders.

  Harsh clicks of an unfamiliar dialect cut through the peace of the undersea world. Asia stopped, her heart pounding with apprehension. A hammerhead shark swam in front of her, and she relaxed momentarily. One shark, she could cope with. She flicked her fluke to propel herself through the water and headed for the shark. The last thing she needed to do was show fear. When she was halfway through the valley, several orcas appeared in front of her. Guttural clicks bounced off the rocks as they communicated. The unfamiliar dialect. Asia understood one word in every four or five, but one thing was clear.

  Danger.

  Asia turned, intending to exit the same way she’d entered. Three sharks and an orca waited for her, blocking her path to freedom.

  Up. The only way out of this mess was up.

  Asia swam strongly, leaping from the water.

  Surrounded.

  Fear bloomed along with confusion. Why were they targeting her? Who were they? She splashed back into the water and gave a distress call. Please let someone from her clan hear. Please be there, Luca.

  One of the orca approached Asia, its mouth open in a smirk. Asia backed up. She repeated her distress call, and the orca’s grin widened. Asia refused to do nothing. Big for her sex, she might make it if she rushed them. Take them by surprise. Decision made, Asia acted on it. She propelled her body through the water, heading away from the female and straight for the sharks and orcas at the other end of the valley.

  At the last moment, she realized they’d strung a net over the exit. Too fast. She was going too fast. Asia crashed into the net. The force of her impact sent the sharks and two orcas backward. For a second, she thought she’d make it, but their combined strength held. The net wrapped around her and held her under the water.

  Air. She needed to breathe. They were going to keep her under water. Icy fear hit then. Her family. She would never see them again. She would never see Roman again. Never be able to tell him she loved him. Never have the opportunity to smack him one for acting the bastard.

  She was going to die.

  But she wasn’t going to die without a fight. Asia whacked a hammerhead in the face with her fluke. She struggled violently, fighting and muscling her way to the surface. The harder she fought, the more tangled the net became, wrapping around her body, holding her fast. Lack of air made her mind hazy. Black dots appeared before her eyes. She cried out, the clicks of distress lost in frenzied calls of the strangers.

  * * * *

  Roman paused. “Did you hear that?
” he called to the others. “That sounded like Helena. Weed, go and summon one of the Bolinos. Tell them they’re in the canyon, if you can get them to understand.”

  He raced off in the direction of the excited chatter, swimming as he’d never swam before. Panic wrapped around him, clinging and threatening to swallow him alive. Asia. What if Helena killed her? Hell, that was a given. She’d want to show strength. Killing a Bolino would show her followers she was serious, that she wouldn’t quibble about annihilating the other clan--their enemies.

  Asia would die thinking he’d deserted her.

  The sharks saw them first. They hesitated, and Roman and his clan members attacked. The water churned white. Flukes inflicted lethal blows. Teeth slashed at unguarded flanks. Blood seeped into the water.

  “The Bolinos are here,” Victor called. “Find Asia.”

  Roman needed no further prodding. Fear propelled him forward, searching for Helena. A red haze of fury prodded him on. He’d find the traitorous bitch and force her to give answers.

  He heard a familiar voice issuing orders. Helena. The orders sent a chill surging the length of his body. Asia. They had her.

  “Drown the bitch,” Helena snarled.

  A net. Guarded. Damn, he needed backup. He turned to see who was available and to his great relief, he saw Luca and his mother fast approaching. He didn’t hesitate. He swam directly at the net from below. Asia needed air. He prayed she was conscious enough to breathe on her own. Roman shunted Asia upward, casually flicking off two hammerhead sharks that dared to take issue. An orca charged but Roman ignored it, putting his faith in the Bolino clan. Blood seeped from wounds along her body. Shit, luckily the sharks hadn’t gone into a feeding frenzy. Obviously they feared Helena more. The worst gash was at her throat, and the net they’d captured her in clung to her body. It was strong, made from some sort of nylon. He’d need a knife. Roman held her weight above the surface of the water until the need to breathe made him seek the air. To his relief, he detected an erratic pulse. She lived. For the moment.