by Angela White
Donner nodded. “Yes. You did well. They’ll be stumbling over bodies in these mountains for years. Keep going.”
“The final ring had to show what we could do. That we didn’t really need the people we were using to fight, that we were more dangerous, more ruthless than our enemy.”
“You succeeded there, too,” Donner admitted. “All it did was get you captured and eventually, killed.”
Angela didn’t stop explaining, stalling. “In time, it will give me absolution. My sacrifice will be greater than my crime.”
Donner threw back his head and laughed. “Don’t you get it yet? There is no god or devil in that top room, no evil or good. That was the line we’ve been fed, but it’s all bullshit. We are the superior beings, the gods. Your call will prove that when no one answers. You’ve wasted your life trying to be good, when all you had to do was use your demon.”
Angela understood his point of view, but she could never accept that. “I’ll be forgiven. You’ll burn.”
Donner shrugged. “One hell is the same as another.”
“Three days after the call, I go free,” Angela demanded coldly, switching topics. She could feel his fanaticism, his lies and tortured, twisted mind. “You can tag along and study things, wait for your answer, but I’m leaving here. I’ll blow my way out if I have to. You can’t keep me.”
Donner had expected it to come to this, but if the call was successful, he didn’t honestly care what happened after that. “And Mitchel?”
“Give him to the bunker instead of me. Tell them that I died.”
Donner liked that idea even more, she could tell, but she was also aware that he would never keep his word. He would drug her anyway and hope it didn’t harm the baby too badly.
“How about one day a week free, and you come on your own to be with your child, who stays with me?”
Angela swallowed the growl, horrified and furious to be negotiating her child’s life in the labs. This was exactly what had happened to Adrian’s parent. Angela didn’t intend to honor her deal either. “Three days free and you don’t monitor me with anything that has to be implanted. Keep your shit out of my body.”
Donner shrugged, waving at the blank paper on the table between them. “Write it up. I’ll inform the bunker. It will take them a few to get back to us. The rain is pouring.”
Angela nodded and Donner didn’t cuff her to the table as he had Adrian. He left them alone without even a sentry, and Angela was satisfied that she had pegged him right. In time, she could probably wrap him around her little finger and keep a government contact, but she had higher goals than one obsessive Major.
“I think you owe me an explanation,” Adrian stated. Turning him over to the bunker had never been a real part of this plan. He still had a lot to teach them, to offer his Safe Haven.
Angela studied the man across the table from her, not caring that he was busy picking the lock on his cuff with a pen that had been left. Or maybe he’d stolen it.
“Borrowed,” Adrian replied without stopping. He dropped the cuff and held up his hand, eyes now glowing.
“Show me.”
Reluctant to unleash something they had no control over, Angela slowly slid her hand into his. This was it. Once made, they couldn’t take it back.
“I’m sorry,” Adrian vowed. “I really am.”
Angela placed her hand in his, shaking.
Adrian opened his mental doors, all of them.
Unable to refuse now, Angela did the same.
The result was a blinding flash of brilliant gold and green lights that swarmed around them in excitement at being free. An instant later, both lights vanished.
Adrian couldn’t control his draw with all of her doors open. He pulled her into his mind ruthlessly, groaning at the effort.
Angela surrendered reluctantly, wishing it were Marc. She stepped fully into his devious, genius mind fully for the first time.
“I see you,” Adrian murmured. “I see you well.”
Angela was drowning in his love, his devotion, his insanity. She forced out, “Then see me all the way!”
They both froze at the immediate blending of their minds. It was so quick, so complete, that neither of them wanted to move and break their joy at finally being together. There was no one here to get jealous or to misunderstand when the couple physically gravitated towards each other, leaning their heads together. The images in their minds were consuming.
2
“What’s going on?” one of their guards asked.
Donner didn’t answer, too busy listening with them on the other side of the glass.
Trey filled in the blanks. “They’re bonding mentally, the final mark of life mates. We assumed the baby was fathered by the Ghost, but this says differently. These two are the soulmates. Resisting each other would have driven them crazy.”
“They’ve had this in the labs, right?” the guard wanted to know.
“Not between two alphas. None of the matches the scientists lined up were actually a match. That’s why Canada blew. A negative and a positive, instead of two of the same, create bad things.”
“I’m confused.”
“You would be!” Donner snapped. “Shut up.”
Light flared from the couple again, blinding to those in the next room. The soldiers slid their glasses on for protection as the glare increased through the glass.
“What’s happening?”
Donner didn’t answer. She’d made a deal, but in truth, it was impossible to guess what she might do now that she and Adrian were alone together.
Donner casually retreated behind the concrete divider as the hum of untold power filled the facility.
Angela wanted to protect herself, to pull away and stop, but Adrian refused to let her back out now. He sent his force over her in full strength, finally letting her feel how much he wanted her, how he’d always wanted her.
Adrian took them to that first meeting at Safe Haven’s gates, to seeing her and realizing she was the one. His voice echoed in her mind as he showed what had become clear to him.
I have always loved you!
The first image was one of Angela in western times, with a handful of kids and a happy husband, but the haunted look in her eyes when she glanced at the ranch foreman gave her away. The foreman, blond and too late to matter, stared back with the same intense longing.
You were always a day ahead of me, out of my reach.
The picture changed to Angela at the stake, burning, as Adrian and her husband screamed in horror from their cells.
He always met you first!
Adrian’s awful pain blasted them into a deeper level of their former lives, taking them to a stunning, lush continent where bombs were falling and three people were running for their lives. The same men were on either side of the woman, covered in ashes and blood, but it was easy to tell who the woman wanted as they died. Her hand clutched at the blond sentry, instead of her wealthy husband.
Why were you always out of reach?! Adrian demanded harshly, exposing his centuries of torment. Why?!
The image flashed to Rome, to Adrian in the arena as Angela sobbed from the balcony while her owner laughed.
Tell me why!
The final vision went farther, and Adrian studied it obsessively. He’d never gotten further than this point in time. The next vision would give him answers he’d been denied in all those lives.
Adrian tightened his mental grip on Angela and flung them into the past as hard as he could…
The garden teamed with life. Giant rabbits and wolves ran through the valleys, not in a life and death struggle, but both in pursuit of the apple that Eve had tossed. She liked how the animals would fetch the food and then quickly swallow it. They could gather their own, of course, but it was fun to interact. The animals and Eve had nothing to fear from each other. They wandered the garden together in peace and amusement.
Nearby, Adam was farming, as he’d been told to do by the Master. His big arms labored under the br
ight sun and for a moment, Eve wondered what she was supposed to be doing. Then the rabbit at her feet ran off, chasing the wolf, and she was distracted from the new thought.
Her sweet laughter ringing across the area brought a smile to Adam’s lips. The Maker had promised him a mate and one had come. He was satisfied. When the Lord told him to, Adam would lie down with her.
Across the pond, the caretaker sat with his back to the divine couple, pretending to be absorbed in his work. The Maker had decreed that Elliot would spend his life gathering the knowledge that was to be passed along to the offspring of the Garden. Adam and Eve would live and love, and reproduce. Elliot would serve them until their children were able to replace him. During his time in the garden, eons, Elliot had begun to feel that unfairness.
“So pretty!” Eve squealed as she discovered a particularly pleasing flower.
Eve’s laugh sent mating thoughts into the minds of both men, but only Elliot acted on them. Put here to study and teach, the caretaker easily discerned what Eve liked, what made her smile and what caused her to scold. He chose to use those things to steal her from her mate.
Eve, pure, had already begun to notice the differences in the two men. Adam was hard and commanding. He told her what to do and she obeyed without question, even when she didn’t want to. The caretaker was covered in hair and more muscles than Adam, but he was kind and quiet spoken. He gave her gifts of leaves twined into animal shapes and taught her how to swim so that she could view the animals living under the waters.
Adam had no feelings of jealousy over Eve and the caretaker. The Maker had given the men jobs. When that work was finished, the woman would be his and the caretaker would tend to their children. Adam had no thoughts of disobedience or free will. The Master had said it would be so. Who was he to question it?
Elliot had become aware of the wrong he was doing and even felt guilt for it, but he would not stop his conquest of Eve. In the end, seduced her away from her mate, like the animals he studied.
Eve, filled with love for Elliot, confessed to Adam that she had lain with the beast and would give birth to his child–Elliot’s child.
Enraged by the betrayal, Adam struck Elliot down in the garden and brought about the final banishment that included himself, as well as the pregnant Eve. When her child was born, she called him Cain.
Adam, bitter to have been turned out, cast the newborn from his sight to die, refusing to let Eve go to her child. Cain’s cries weakened until both of them were sure that he would soon join his father. Then Adam took what had been stolen from him and gave Eve his child, who they named Able.
Angela struggled to break free of the awful visions.
That can’t be. That can’t be!
Easy, Adrian soothed, almost as upset as she was.
But it’s us! she screamed. We did this!
Adrian could only try to comfort her, knowing it would never be enough. He now had the reasons. Despite being the better match, he and Angela had never been destined for each other. Each time he’d tried to interfere with her and Marc over their lifetimes, it had ended in disaster for all of them.
We cursed the world! Angela sobbed. You did!
Adrian felt the harsh judgment of centuries weighing down on him and he opened his heart to the Maker, crying out, “Why not me, Lord? Why was I left alone?”
“The Maker’s Call,” Donner breathed.
There was a second of light pressure, of a wistful hand running over Adrian’s brow with so much love that tears burst from his eyes. A voice came, perfect and masterful, with kindness on a level that Adrian had never felt.
“You were to lead them gently into my awareness. You were to be idolized by entire civilizations. Love would have been your mate, love of the world. But it wasn’t enough.”
Then the true voice came, thundering down with unequaled rage that terrorized them both into huddling on the floor.
“You are the serpent in the garden! Banished! Banished!”
Angela cried out at the harsh pain, Adrian’s pain, and then her own emotions slammed into her, stealing the last bit of resistance.
It wasn’t our fault! she cried, tears coursing down her cheeks. You made us this way! You let me love him! I didn’t know!
There was only silence now, that powerhouse gone from their souls, but the truth had come out. She and Adrian had loved each other throughout the centuries, and it was wrong.
“I’m sorry,” Adrian cried, rising to put his hand over hers. “Please forgive us!”
Finally bonded, their power merged, creating a blast of energy that shot out from their bodies and traveled the globe. The call was one that had never been used in the world before.
Angela arched. Adrian’s grip became iron as the power sent out a second blast, then rebounded, sucked back into its hosts.
Angela jerked her hands away, needing to gain control of her widely thumping heart.
Adrian held his throbbing chest, not speaking.
“They’ve done it!” Donner exclaimed in awe. “They’ve called for the Maker.” Donner turned toward his office. “Separate those two.”
Angela went to Adrian as the door opened, aware of the protocol because of Adrian running through it in his head.
Angela leaned down to place a soft kiss to his cheek. “I loathe you.”
Adrian felt her trying to sever their new bonds, but he didn’t offer any resistance. It couldn’t be done.
Angela went to her cell without resisting or being restrained, further proof that her keeping her word to behave. She also took their drugs, swallowing them in relief. Maybe she could sleep for the next 72-hours and pretend it was Marc in here with her.
Adrian slumped to the floor as soon as Angela was out of sight, clutching his chest. Unless he wanted to continue the traditions of Elliot, he would never be with her now. She would never be able to get over this and love him. The truth hadn’t set them free. It had caged him.
3
Marc shifted restlessly in his bedroll. The others had insisted that he rest until daylight. He’d forced himself into it, knowing he needed to remain strong, but the dreams were haunting. In them, he wasn’t himself anymore. He’d become greater than he had been, larger somehow. He floated over land that didn’t appear to be the country he lived in. The earth below was perfect. From the birds and trees, to the waterfalls and fish leaping from the crystal waves. The only thing he could compare it to was paradise. As he flew over the mountain, Marc saw mountains and jungles, and then a crisp shoreline that invited him to come closer.
Can I? he wondered.
To his delight, he immediately flew down and skimmed the waves until he reached the sandy beach. It was too narrow for a large boat, but perfect for someone who wanted to be hidden away and forgotten about. Before he could explore further, his demon pulled him back to the edge of alertness.
They’ve bonded.
Marc knew. He’d felt the power, the forbidden call that he’d read about in Adrian’s notebooks. The only way to do that was when two matched Alphas made the promise, the vow, of forever.
Will we sleep now?
Marc wasn’t sure what would come from this, but the idea of putting his demon to sleep and taking off into the wilderness wasn’t one he could stomach. He would die fighting, as he had in every other life his demon had shown him.
Perhaps it has been too much?
Marc disagreed. He knew more about his origins now than he’d ever suspected. He was a leader of men, of all men, and he would continue to be, even after this war was finally over.
Marc forced himself to wake, not wanting to stay in that heaven much longer. The temptation to take the easy way out was one that every person in hard times struggled with, but he was made of sterner stuff.
Marc’s eyes opened to show him darkness and a host of people on the ground around him. His magic was stronger now. The bubble he’d placed over their small camp was still standing. Outside that clear dome, snow was falling. That had been the only t
hing to get him to call it a night. Traveling through the snow would make it easy to miss any tracks.
“I know where the call came from,” Kendle stated on his right. “I found it in Ivan’s thoughts before you sent him to camp.”
Her tone was rebellious and Marc quickly leaned over, face blazing. “I was never promised to you!”
Kendle flinched, wounded. “She’s at Mercer Bio Labs. It’s the only place near here that could house a government facility.”
“Really?” His anger rushed out in thick waves. “I already know where she is, but you should have told me that as soon as you figured it out!”
Marc shoved to his feet. “Stay away from me. You smell like death.”
Five minutes later, Marc dropped his shield and strode down the steep mountainside into Dalton. Very few people knew about the bio lab, but Marc had been there before, doing security work. The high security complex wouldn’t keep him out.
4
“We’re leaving now.”
Cynthia nodded, busy with the paperwork that Kevin kept handing her. “Check-ins, okay?”
Neil and Jeremy motioned to their team and the van rolled over to pick them up. The five vehicles slid from Safe Haven’s rear gate, where few of the camp members were awake to witness it. Inside these vans were only a few people, but they were angry and it would make up for their numbers. These men and women had been told this war was over, but they didn’t have their leaders. It was time to remind everyone that Safe Haven wasn’t powerless.
Cynthia heard the gates shut, but didn’t watch the van fade from view. She had her hands full, even though most of the camp was still in their tents and campers. There were schedules for the next day to write and deliver, meals and caregivers to be arranged, guards shifts and posts to be checked on and rotated, and of course, questions to be answered.
“Are we on full rations?”