Retribution (The Praegressus Project Book 5)

by Aaron Hodges

  Shaking her head, Liz forced the image of Chris dead in some ditch from her mind. Anger gave her strength, and picking up the pace, she overtook several of her brethren. Chris had made his choice, had sided with those who wished to harm them, to harm her mother. Liz could never forgive him for that.

  Slowly the Chead wound their way down the slope towards the distant plains. On the horizon, light was beginning to grow as daybreak neared. In the distance she glimpsed the gleaming lights of a city. It could only be Albuquerque, and the Kirtland Airforce Base where the President was meant to be hiding.

  The light continued to grow as they entered the foothills. Liz watched as the plains took shape through the gloom. Great, blackened circles appeared, staining the red soils—remnants of the desperate battles that had once been fought here. New Mexico had been the front line of the American War, a place where thousands upon thousands had fought and died for principles long forgotten by their descendants. Now, the plains were all but empty. Even the once great Albuquerque was but a shadow of its past.

  A shout carried up from below. As though acting by some pre-arranged plan, the Chead drifted across the slope towards the shadows of a valley. Slipping into the darkness, they began to settle in for the day. So close to their destination, they could not risk being seen by the enemy’s spies.

  Relief swept through Liz as she staggered to a stop, her wings hanging heavily from her back. She stood swaying on her feet, darkness swirling at the edges of her vision.

  They had been running for twenty hours straight now, all through the day and night, and even her enhanced body was reaching its limits. It had been the same since the first day she’d joined the Chead. Liz was sure the endless journey would have driven her mad, if not for the strange passage of time as they ran. At times she would set out, watching as the sun lifted into the sky, only to blink, and find the scarlet globe falling towards the other horizon.

  Hands on her hips, Liz tried to focus her vision. Her stomach swirled, nauseous from the day’s exertion, to the point she was afraid she might throw up. Sinking suddenly to her knees, she put her head in her hands and sucked in another breath.

  “Liz,” Talisa’s voice whispered, cutting through the fog.

  Liz blinked, shocked to find herself standing in a cave before her mother. Talisa’s white eyes shone as she waved for Liz to sit on the rocks beside her. “Rest, my daughter. Your body is still struggling to adjust to our ways.”

  Looking around the cave, Liz struggled to focus her thoughts, her mind sluggish with exhaustion. Hadn’t she just been watching the last stars fade from the sky…? It was pitched black inside the cave, with only the flicker of a candle for light, and she could not tell what time it was.

  She looked at her mother again. A sharp ache in her legs reminded Liz of her exhaustion, and nodding, she took a seat beside the ancient Chead. Without thinking, she lay down and put her head in her mother’s lap, the way she had as a child.

  “My daughter,” Talisa’s voice whispered through the cavern. “How I missed you, all these years.”

  Liz shivered as tears sprang to her eyes. Closing them, she allowed her mind to drift, safe in her mother’s embrace. The familiar sweetness of the old woman wrapped around her, comforting her as soft fingers stroked her hair. Her mother’s immunity remained beyond her understanding, but she had long since given up questioning it.

  For a while, time seemed to stand still. A soft tranquillity settled around Liz. Exhausted, she gave herself over to sleep. Darkness swirled and images flashed through her mind, bordering on dreams. Movement came from the shadows, a flickering light that threatened to tear the sweet blanket of sleep away. She tried to rise, to lift herself from her fatigue and concentrate on the shadows, but her body resisted. Chains wrapped around her spirit, and it wasn’t until they finally fell away that she rose back towards the light.

  Liz smiled as her eyes flickered open. Her mother’s warmth still lay beneath her head, the soft fingers in her hair.

  “Elizabeth…” a voice whispered from above.

  A tingle of alarm swept through Liz. The voice had not been her mother’s. Breathing in, she tasted a new scent, a harsh, raw sweetness that set her heart racing. Her eyes flickered open, but shadows still clung to her vision. She struggled to think, her mind rebelling against the cobwebs wrapping about her thoughts.

  “My daughter, wake.” The words this time were her mother’s, but they came from across the cave.

  Throwing off the last shackles of sleep, Liz blinked the shadows from her eyes and looked around. She found her mother immediately, standing in the centre of the cavern, watching Liz with her murky white gaze. Frowning, Liz looked up as the hand stroked her hair again.

  Hecate smiled down at her, his grey eyes glowing in the light of the candle.

  Inwardly, Liz recoiled. A voice deep in her mind cried out, yet her body did not respond. To her horror, Liz realised she was no longer in control. With agonising slowness, a hungry smile spread across her lips. Her head lifted from Hecate’s lap. She felt him stir with the movement.

  “What is this, mother,” she croaked, her voice stiff as iron.

  Talisa smiled back. “My time approaches, daughter,” she whispered, moving slowly towards them. “You must take my place, and lead our people against the humans. But first you must truly become Chead.”

  Liz shivered. Hecate’s fingers were trailing their way down her chest, plucking at the buttons of her jacket, igniting fire wherever they touched. Her mind swirled, struggling to think past the desire burning in her stomach. She looked from Hecate to her mother, mouth open, hardly able to breathe, suffocated by the scents filling the cave.

  “How?” she murmured.

  Hecate’s hands were inside her jacket now, slipping beneath her shirt, sliding his rough fingers across her skin. A groan rumbled up from her throat.

  “Be my mate,” Hecate’s mouth was at her ear, his breath hot. “Join with me, and we will watch humanity burn.”

  Liz shuddered as his hand cupped her breast, and then she was gone. A haze swept across her vision, washing away all thought and reason. Suddenly her lips were locked with his. Her hands tore desperately at his clothes, ripping away his shirt and pants.

  A savage growl came from her mate as he responded. In seconds her jacket vanished. Her shirt followed, and then Hecate’s lips were on her neck, and all she could do was dig her fingers into his back. A moan tore from her throat as his kisses trailed down her neck, drifting towards her naked breasts. She shuddered, her hands gripping at his hair, desperate to sate the fire burning inside her.

  But now Hecate was pulling back, his hands retreating. Anger flaring, Liz tangled her fingers in Hecate’s hair, pulling him down, desperate now. Flames scorched her stomach. They needed to be sated—now.

  Hecate shuddered beneath her fingers, but still he resisted her pull. She could hear his breath in the darkness, its rugged gasps. A growl rattled up from Liz’s throat as she realised he was taunting her. Her fingers dug into his scalp, insistent.

  A scream tore through the darkness, horribly loud in the confines of the cave, and suddenly Hecate was gone. Liz gasped as the heat of his touch vanished, leaving her alone. Sitting up, she bared her teeth and searched for the cowardly male.

  He stood transfixed in the centre of the cave, eyes wide, body trembling. Purple lines streaked down his face and arms. A strangled cry tore from his lips as he staggered sideways. Then his feet went out from under him, and he collapsed in a heap on the cavern floor.

  Gaping, Liz’s lust turned to confusion. Looking around, her heart lurched as she found herself almost naked. In horror, she realised what she’d been about to do. Her mind swam and she staggered to her feet, then dropped immediately to her knees and threw up on the rocky ground.

  Acid burned her throat as she gasped, but her stomach was not done. Another spasm rocked her body. Tears stung her eyes, but for the first time in days her thoughts were clear. The fog fell away, and with it
she saw again Chris in the abandoned building, begging her to leave, to come with him. Her stomach lurched, and sobbing she bent in two, though only bile came up now.

  When she finally looked around, her eyes found Talisa, still standing in the darkness. Her brow was knitted in anger as she watched Hecate writhe on the floor, the stinging venom of Liz’s Nematocysts burning through him. “I thought he was strong,” she muttered. Shaking her head, Talisa turned to Liz. “I will find a better mate for you, my daughter.”

  Mind rebelling, Liz staggered to her feet. Her stomach ached, and waves of revulsion set her body trembling. “I’m leaving,” she gasped, staring at her mother.

  Soft laughter whispered through the cave as Talisa stepped towards her. “Oh, my daughter, I am sorry I chose one so unworthy. But do not despair, the Chead are strong. We will find you a better mate.”

  As she neared, the cloying sweetness in the air grew stronger, blanketing Liz. Her thoughts swirled, beginning to calm, blunting the crisp horror of her memories. She shook her head violently, fighting the fog, and retreated a step.

  “Stay away from me!” she shouted, more for her own benefit than anything. The words did nothing to halt her mother’s approach. Slowly Liz retreated to the corner of the cave. She could feel the scent pulling at her, drawing her consciousness back down, feeding the Chead raging within. “Please,” she croaked, desperate.

  “Do not fight it, my daughter,” Talisa whispered. “You are one of us now.”

  She opened her arms to embrace Liz, and then froze. Her eyes widened suddenly, the eerie glow of their murky white fading away. She swayed on her feet, a low moan whispering from her lips. Without a word, she toppled to the ground.

  Behind her, fist red with the elder Chead’s blood, stood Susan. Liz’s heart lurched as she looked from her dead mother to the girl. A sneer spread across Susan’s lips as she stared back, her eyes now a murky white.

  “You tried to steal my mate,” Susan growled.

  Bloody fist raised, she stepped towards Liz.

  Chapter 25

  Susan smiled as she stepped towards the winged girl. Her heart twisted as she glimpsed Hecate on the floor, sorrow for his pain mingling with her rage at his betrayal. But those emotions quickly fell away, vanishing into the abyss as she looked at Talisa’s broken body. Blood dripped from Susan’s fingers as she smiled, a sense of calm falling over her. Turning back to the girl, she continued towards her.

  Earlier, Susan had watched the girl collapse on the side of the mountain. Her heart had lifted at the sight, at the knowledge the imposter had finally revealed her weakness. She was no Chead, was not worthy of her place beside Talisa. Baring her teeth, Susan had started towards her, eager to end the pathetic creature’s life.

  Then Talisa herself had appeared. Crouching beside her so-called daughter, Talisa had called her back, the power in her voice lifting the abomination to her feet. Together they had wandered across the slope, the winged girl staggering along in a listless stupor, following Talisa’s lead.

  It was then Susan had recalled her first night with Hecate, her joining with the Chead. Talisa had led her away from the others, given Susan to Hecate. Watching the two move through the shadows, Susan had felt a sense of premonition. Anger flaring, she had followed them, wanting to see whether she was right, if Talisa truly intended to make the girl one with the Chead.

  She had hidden in the boulders outside the cave when the two disappeared inside, knowing the male would come later, if that was what Talisa intended.

  When Hecate had appeared, Susan finally realised she’d been betrayed. She had sensed the distance growing between herself and Talisa since the girl’s appearance, but it wasn’t until that moment that Susan realised she’d been discarded. Wrapped in the grips of a terrible rage, she’d silently followed Hecate into the cave. There, Susan had watched in a helpless shock as her mate seduced the abomination.

  Only when Hecate lurched back from the wing girl and started to scream did Susan finally come back to herself. Yet still she’d hesitated, uncertain. The rage had built within her, threatening to tear her in two, but a desperate fear held her back. She could not go against Talisa. The ancient Chead’s power was unquestionable; if she wished, she could stop Susan with a glare.

  Then, just as it seemed Talisa’s daughter would be trapped again in the elder Chead’s spell, Susan’s gaze had fallen on Hecate. His grey eyes had stared at her through the darkness, unblinking. His writhing had slowed by then, though his breath still came in raged gasps. As their eyes met, a silent message had passed between them. Susan had seen the depth of his regret, his sorrow.

  In that instant, Susan had realised the truth—that Talisa was behind it all. A strange calm had come over her then, her rage fading away as she stared at the ancient Chead’s back. Silently she had stepped up behind the old woman. Talisa was so focused on her own daughter, she didn’t even sense the blow coming. Susan hardly blinked as she drove her fist into the elder Chead’s spine, hardly felt the soft flesh giving way, the bone snapping beneath her strength.

  Now, as Susan looked at the cowering girl, Susan still felt that strange calm. Deep within, her anger raged, demanding retribution for the girl’s treachery, but outwardly she felt nothing. The freak would pay for seducing her mate, for trying to take Susan’s place. She would die in agony for harming Hecate, for daring to believe she was worthy of the Chead.

  “You tried to steal my mate,” she said.

  Elation washed through Susan as she saw the fear in the girl’s blue eyes. Black wings trembled in the darkness as the girl shook her head. “Please, no, I didn’t want him.”

  Whatever fire, whatever courage the girl had once possessed had abandoned her now. Susan smiled. In the end, Talisa had been a fool. Blinded by her own blood, she had been unable to see the girl’s weakness, or Susan’s strength. Not that it mattered now. The girl would not survive the night.

  “I saw you,” she hissed, moving closer. “You tried to take him.”

  “No, I was…lost. I never meant too. Just let me go, I don’t want anything to do with you!” She finished the sentence with a shout.

  Straightening, the girl spread her wings. It seemed her fire wasn’t gone yet.

  Susan laughed. “Can’t have you warning the humans.”

  “I won’t warn them,” Liz shot back, clinging to Susan’s words. “I want the President dead.”

  “The President means nothing to me,” Susan smirked. “His death was Talisa’s design. I only want his help, to burn humanity from this earth.”

  It was strange, with the peace that had settled over her, the words came easily to Susan now. For the first time since the change, her mind and mouth worked as one.

  The girl held up her hands as she retreated. “Just let me go, Susan. We don’t have to fight—” she broke off as her back touched the wall of the cave.

  Her hands snapped around, pressing at the cold stone, and the jacket Hecate had torn fell open. She quickly pulled it back into place, but the sight of the girl’s breasts brought back images of her in Hecate’s arms. Growling, Susan moved forward until only an inch separated them.

  “I am sick of the sight of you.”

  Her foe blinked, and then apparently decided the time for talk was over. Lurching sideways, she threw a punch at Susan’s face. Susan grinned as she stepped back, allowing the blow to cut empty air. Caught off-balance, Liz staggered, and Susan reached out and caught her by the joints of her wings. Clenching her teeth, she spun, hurling the girl at the wall.

  The girl screamed, her arms stretching out to soften her impact. A harsh crack echoed through the cave as she slammed into the rock, and then slid listlessly to the ground. A low moan whispered up from Liz as she staggered back to her feet, clutching at her arm.

  Smiling, Susan stepped after her.

  Now the girl spread her wings. In the narrow space, the pitch-black feathers seemed to merge with the darkness. But the cave’s ceiling was only a few feet above their he
ads, and Susan stood in front of the exit, blocking her path. Shrieking, the black wings beat down, and the girl shot towards Susan.

  A boot flashed for Susan’s face, but she calmly reached up and caught the girl by the leg. The abomination shrieked as Susan hurled her into the rocky floor. Susan smiled as the breath whooshed from the girl’s chest. Releasing her, she watched her foe fold in two, gasping desperately for air.

  Seeing her wings flapping against the ground, Susan sneered. Before the girl could recover, she stomped down on the nearest limb, laughing as her enemy screamed. Bloodied and bruised, the girl tried to crawl away. Her soft sobs echoed through the cave as Susan followed her.

  The softest whisper was the only warning Susan had before the boy appeared. Whirling towards the sound, she tried to grasp the flickering shadow, but a fist caught her in the chin and sent her tumbling backwards. Wind swirled through the cavern as great wings beat down.

  Susan gritted her teeth as she struck the wall. Catching herself as she fell, she landed lightly on her feet and looked around for her assailant.

  The boy was already kneeling beside the girl, lifting her into his arms. Before Susan could leap after him, he spread his auburn wings and hurled himself towards the exit. His wings beat down, their tips brushing the narrow walls as he shot up the tunnel and disappeared around the bend.

  Then he was gone, leaving Susan standing alone in the cave with Hecate.

  Chapter 26

  Chris was panting hard by the time he settled down on top of the narrow cliff. He had flown hard and fast from the cave, fleeing into the sky and out across the plains as far as his wings would carry him. Unfortunately, with Liz dangling from his arms, that wasn’t half as far as he would have liked.

  Still, he couldn’t go any farther without rest. He had chosen the narrow escarpment in the hope the steep cliffs would slow the Chead if they came for them. With their enhanced sight, they had no doubt tracked his flight across the cloudless sky, but there was nothing he could do about that. At least it would take the creatures a few hours to cross the few dozen miles he’d put between them.