by Maggie Mundy
Ridge put on his best fake smile. “My information comes from farther afield, Pergor. I was told you were there recently with a certain Elevated and this Soren.”
“What is it to you who I associate with?” Cameron said as he took a step forward.
“Nothin’, ’cept Soren’s my brother, and if you’re holdin’ an Angelic Midworlder against his will, you may get your wish to go back to Homeworld, in a body bag.”
Cameron laughed but it held no mirth. “I don’t know where you misguided people get your information from, but it’s wrong. We did have someone called Soren here, but he was a Demonic through and through. Tried to kill enough people. I should know.”
Ridge noticed a movement at the top of the steps. He would like to say he was surprised, but he wasn’t. Sayell and Charles stood and nodded to him. Did this Cameron even know what he was dealing with, or vice versa? He couldn’t imagine this lot telling each other the truth.
Shala approached Cameron. “I think we should take our leave. Anytime you want to visit our Enclave, I’m sure you won’t let me know. Until next time.”
Ridge tipped his head and followed Shala back to the bus. He sighed with relief to be away from Cameron and his exalted friends.
Teal gave him a sideways glance as they pulled down the driveway.
“The two men on the balcony were people you knew. I don’t mean to pry, but your hatred for each other flowed both ways. I also felt the same from you, Heath.”
“You’re good,” Ridge said. “The fact those two pieces of work would’ve raped our partners if they could makes us want to chop their dicks off and shove ’em down their throats. Does that answer your question?”
Teal smiled. “Definitely. I really don’t like men who don’t respect women. Let me know when you want to take them down.”
Evie interrupted them. “If Charles is losing his appendage, I’m the one who is holding the knife.”
Ridge liked her way of thinking. Heath had been his friend for over two hundred years, but he liked Evie. Her cussing and lack of reserve were refreshing. Heath was such a stickler for formality. Heath could fight with the best, though, and was learning to cuss a bit too.
Kim drove to the beach. The Angelic Midworlders lived in a large house near the suburb of Glenelg with pubs and restaurants nearby. Teal prepared food for them, but Ridge couldn’t eat it, knowing Soren was out there. Their father had been an ass, but Ridge wouldn’t let his brother down. There must be some way to connect with him.
He followed Shala to the lounge.
“Teal is up on the roof seeing if he can get any more contacts. We’ve a bigger problem, though. Is your brother an Angelic, or what? I don’t wish to sound disrespectful, but I’m not risking my Enclave for a Demonic.”
“My father’s an Angelic, if not a particularly pleasant one. For political reasons he’s seen with his wife, but he’s known to be an unfaithful prick on repeated occasions. I can’t believe he’d sleep with a Demonic though. My mother, I don’t know much about, but again it would be doubtful. Who the hell knows these days.”
Ridge didn’t care at this point. He just wanted to find Soren. Everyone could work out the whole heritage thing later. He didn’t reckon Soren would have had a happy existence at Cameron’s Enclave. He just needed to find him. He didn’t have time to offer anything else as Teal walked back in.
“I think I may have another lead. Not only my normal type but on the Internet. It seems someone reported seeing a man with wings in the Flinders Ranges. It’s on the site of one of the followers of a church group who was up there. I suggest we go and see them.”
“And the other lead?”
“It’s distant thoughts coming from a Guardian who has a human who is dying. The human is talking about going to Sydney to see angels. It could just be because she’s dying and thinking she is getting closer to God. I am struggling with the location on that one.”
“Let’s go and visit the church then,” Ridge said.
Ridge slept a little as they drove to an outback city called Broken Hill. Sara had been checking the Internet, and the church was already coming up with some interesting connections. She leaned forward to show Ridge her iPad.
“Seems the guy who runs this place is the nephew of James Burtrom, the billionaire. Not what I expected. Broken Hill is not usually known as the place of the rich and famous from what Teal said. Apart from a painter called Pro Hart.”
Ridge wasn’t happy about this latest piece of knowledge. Burtrom could be ruthless. He worshiped the almighty dollar and power. Ridge would love to blame a Demonic Guardian’s influence for it but thought the piece of crap was just a bad human being.
“Let’s see what they have to say,” Ridge said.
The huge house on the property had a chapel built next to it. A middle-aged couple came out onto the front porch as they drove up. Ridge thought he would let Shala do the introductions. Having someone with an American accent from Down South might be too much right now. It suddenly occurred to him they didn’t even have a surname for Soren.
“Hello. I’m Shala, and we’re looking for a friend of ours. We were told by someone in Adelaide he might have been to see you. His name is Soren.”
Ridge took the big smiles from the couple to mean they were on the right track. He sent out thoughts to the house but couldn’t sense anyone other than humans inside.
“Come on in. We have lots to discuss. My name is Gavin, and this is my wife, Peta.”
Ridge and the others followed them back in the house. Strange to think Soren had been here. He would find him. He had to. Peta brought out cold drinks for them all and Shala did the talking.
“So what can you tell us about Soren? He’s a relative of one of ours, and we are worried for him.”
Gavin spoke first. “You’re worried because of those other thugs, aren’t you? I heard one of them was called Cameron. We met him, and I have to say I don’t want to renew the acquaintance. Anne and Soren were lovely. I think before I go on I should tell you something about why we took them in and it may shock you.”
Okay, so who was Anne? Question Number One. Also, what did he think could possibly shock them?
“I come from a rich family, very rich. I had everything. Peta and I had a beautiful daughter who was sick, and all our money couldn’t save her. I needed to believe in something else. I gave up the work and the money. I started this church and then the visions started. You will think me crazy, but I saw Soren fall from the sky with a man with wings.”
“Go on,” Ridge said.
“I told Peta this morning you were coming. I told her in my dream last night you have wings like Soren. I don’t understand why I can see this, but I know we can help each other.”
Ridge found himself growing impatient. None of them had time to waste. “Soren’s my brother. I wanna find him. No point in pretendin’ when you’ve seen stuff go down. Will you help us find him? Also, who is Anne?”
Peta laughed, and Ridge realized he must have said something amusing. He wished Nicole were here. She always knew the right thing to say. If his brother had gotten himself involved with a woman who wasn’t a Midworlder, this was going to be interesting. Especially if Soren’s choice was similar to his own. Nicole was feisty and opinionated, and he loved her.
“Anne is Soren’s partner,” Peta replied. “He said they were bonded. I told him I thought it sounded an odd term to describe a relationship, but he said it was the only way he could define it.”
“Shit,” Sara said.
Ridge wasn’t surprised at his second-in-command’s reaction. He remembered how Sara was when she had dealt with him and Nicole. The bonding meant they were all on a countdown and they needed to find Anne and Soren even sooner.
Peta reached across and touched Ridge’s hand.
“Have you
ever seen your brother? I got the impression he doesn’t know you exist. He didn’t mention having any family.”
“Until a few months ago, I didn’t know he was alive. I don’t know why, but the powers that be kept him a secret. I can’t imagine they’re too happy he’s gone walkabout, as you Aussies say.”
“I have a picture of them both on my phone. Would you like to see it?” Peta asked as she reached into her purse.
Ridge wasn’t known to get emotional, but his heart thumped in his chest and his hands went clammy as he took the phone. There was a picture of two people sitting at this table with pizza in front of them. Anne was smiling, and Soren’s hand was placed protectively over hers. The way his brother gazed at the woman indicated to Ridge how well the bonding was taking effect. He knew what it was like to be connected to someone so totally your life would not be worth living without them.
Ridge tried to search Soren’s countenance for any similarities. The two of them had the same shaped face, but Soren’s hair was short and brown. Ridge still had his long and would tie it back in a ponytail. Soren looked as if his physique was about the same. Big, muscular, and probably over six feet tall. There was also a look of sadness about Soren in the way he stared at Anne. Ridge reckoned his brother knew he had given his woman a death sentence. Ridge had felt the same way when he had bonded with Nicole.
Anne was tall as well, and her blonde hair with red streaks fell around her shoulders. From what he could tell, she appeared relaxed. What did he know, though? To be honest, these two people in the picture were complete strangers to him. At least now he knew what they looked like.
“Do you want me to send it to you?” Peta asked, and Ridge nodded.
“What else can you tell us?” Shala asked.
Gavin said, “After I saw the flying man, we went to find them. Anne and Soren were being assaulted, so we took them with us. We knew Cameron and his men were watching, but we had safety in numbers. We brought them back here and then snuck them out with some of my worshipers the next day.”
“Did they say where they were goin’?” Ridge asked.
“He said they would go to Sydney to see someone called Edric. Soren was sick and said maybe this Edric could help, but thought it unlikely because Soren was attached to the dark men.”
Ridge peeked across to Shala.
“I know of Edric, but haven’t met him. He runs a large Enclave in Sydney and came out on the First Fleet.”
Gavin nearly choked on his soda at her comment.
“How long do you people live?” Peta asked.
“Let’s just say hundreds of years,” Ridge answered.
Gavin chuckled. “You’d better not let my uncle know. He is old and sick and would be trying to find a way to live longer. I think the world will have had enough of him. I know there are some in the church who are still dependent on him. Money talks.”
Ridge could see there was no love lost between Gavin and his uncle, which was good news.
“We’ll head back to Adelaide and book flights to Sydney. If Anne or Soren get back in contact with you, let us know.” Ridge stood and followed the others back out.
“There was one other thing Soren promised, though he was unsure he could fulfill it,” Gavin said. “When this was all sorted he would come back and show us what you are all really like.”
Ridge could see the look of adoration in Gavin’s eyes. He was staring at something beyond belief coming true. Ridge might return and take him flying, but he would make it clear they were no one’s saviors. In fact, Earth might need saving from them soon enough.
“I’ll come back with my brother and take you flyin’.”
“Thank you,” Gavin said and grabbed his hand.
Ridge got on the bus, and Heath shook his head at him. “Of course, you will wipe his mind immediately after the flight through the outback.”
“Yep, I’ll leave it in his mind like one of his visions. Now let’s get goin’ and find my brother before that pain-in-the-butt Cameron does.”
Chapter 11
Unwanted Visitors
Cameron wanted to hit someone. Then again, he always wanted to hit someone. It was why the members of his Enclave treaded carefully. He was a hard boss and he could be violent. All necessary to keep these hotheaded Midworlders under control. He let them have their parties and play their little games with humans to blow off steam. He wasn’t interested in taking part. He had a dominatrix, and she relaxed him a little.
The two new visitors to his Enclave were different from his people. For a start, they were Enclave leaders like him. That in itself was unusual. Most leaders stayed off each other’s patches and for good reason. In the past, Enclave Leaders had been known to try and kill each other.
Sayell was an American who looked like a model from a top-end fashion magazine with his chiseled features and smoothed-back black hair. The suit he was wearing gave the impression of being a designer label. Cameron liked jeans and T-shirts. He wasn’t into playing the ‘look at me’ game.
Charles was more like a young professional with neat blond hair. His eyes showed almost no emotion. Cameron’s people could learn a few things from them. He just wasn’t personally interested in learning from them. Cameron needed to get his job done, and now he was angry at himself for losing Soren.
Cameron was particular about what he wanted from this whole Soren-Liliath connection, and he didn’t want Charles and Sayell getting in the way. When Shala and her friends were gone, he took the two men to his library and poured them all some expensive scotch. Neither of them looked as if they were going to pour their hearts out, so he talked.
“So I get the impression you both knew Shala’s companions?”
Sayell stood and pretended to look at a few books on the shelves and then turned back and sighed. If he had been on his own, Cameron would have beaten the shit out of Sayell.
“Ridge, the long-haired American is from my patch. His wife, Nicole, is Australian and has successfully converted and had a child. From what I’ve been told in Pergor, there is some connection between him and this Soren who has gone missing. I didn’t know they were brothers.”
Charles spoke next. “Heath is from my area, and the woman who was with him is a converted female as well. As you can see, the power is turning, and we can’t have Angelics changing people and creating a new race. It will upset the gentle balance down here.”
Cameron reckoned these two didn’t give a shit about the gentle balance, but he would try to find out more.
“I thought those were only rumors. Didn’t believe it had worked. Have they told you how?”
“It seems they’re not following the normal traditions,” Sayell said. “We’ve picked that up by combining with these females. They’re making themselves more human in some way. In a sense, they start to die. Can’t say I’m too keen on that.”
“So what do you want from me? I don’t have Soren anymore, though we may have more contacts on where he is headed.”
Sayell smiled, but it held no joy. “I believe we have the way to counter what is happening. Charles and I have been assisting an Elevated to come to Earth. Unfortunately, the two men we mentioned have disturbed our plans somewhat.”
Cameron saw the first bit of emotion in Charles, and he was pretty sure it was hate. He knew what Elevated they were talking about.
“You mean our dearest friend, Liliath?” Cameron said. “I can’t say she comes across as caring about anyone’s place on Earth but her own.” Cameron was sure he saw a flicker of anger go between the men. So the fools were entranced by the crazy Elevated and fighting over her. These two idiots could have her. Cameron considered Liliath to be poisonous, physically and mentally.
“So what is your connection to her?” Charles asked as he helped himself to another drink.
“Why should
I tell you?” Cameron could play this game, too.
“Sayell and I want to rule down here with her. If we have to be stuck on this planet, there might as well be some benefits. We would just like to clarify why she has asked for your assistance.”
Cameron would use these two men to get Soren back if he could. He didn’t care what Liliath did down on Earth. He had no intention of being here then.
“You mean because I don’t want to fuck her. I’m surprised, though. If the three of you are so friendly then why hasn’t she told you? Keeping us all a bit in the dark is probably what she wants. The truth is I want to go home, but not to die. Let’s say I have some unfinished business. Liliath offered to help me if I looked after Soren. It seemed like a good deal, but he was unhinged.”
“So, is he Demonic?” Sayell asked.
Cameron laughed. “Fucked if I know what he is. He might have been once, but with all the shit she’s been doing to him, he isn’t anymore. Unstable describes him. Liliath’s been changing his body so she could use it to come down here. She thought she was getting close.”
“Interesting. Are you straight, Sayell?” Charles asked with a grin.
“Can’t say I’ve tried being with a man but I’m always open to new sensations and experiences.”
Cameron shook his head. He got the impression the two of them would fuck anything to get what they wanted. To be honest, was he any different? If Liliath pushed it, he would fuck her to get back home.
Cameron needed to cool these two down. “It will all be irrelevant if you can’t find Soren. There is something else I need to tell you. We believe he has an unprotected female with him.” Cameron watched the pair of them trying to hide their emotions. Seeing the muscles in both men’s necks stiffen, he wanted to laugh.
“That’s a shame, Cameron,” Sayell said. “Liliath could have used the female to come across. If this Soren thing doesn’t work out, this woman could be our backup plan.”