Halfblood Heritage

by Rheaume, Laura

  “Like my mother?” challenged Scythe for the first time.

  “I’m sorry, but...yes. That’s just what I believe. They are not of the Blood.”

  Scythe grit his teeth, but stayed silent.

  Keyrin continued, “But, if you think you have a chance of bringing even one Kin back to us, then I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. If that means using a Human for a time, I can definitely do that. So, what you’re asking for is a meeting with this woman, in private I assume, where you can test her to see if she is involved and, if she’s honest, get her to help us.”

  “That’s what I’m asking for.”

  Keyrin leaned forward, suddenly intent, and spoke sharply, “Will you betray the Kin?”

  Scythe answered without hesitation, “No.”

  “Will you do everything in your power to bring back our brothers and sisters, up to and including giving your life?”

  “Yes,” Scythe answered easily and honestly. “What’s more, I’ll risk my only Human friends’ lives too.”

  “You know I don’t care about them.”

  “And you know that I do.”

  Keyrin said, “Fair enough.” He pointed his finger at Scythe. “If we determine that she knows about the abductions, that she’s involved in harming the Kin in any way, she dies and her brother dies, immediately.”

  Scythe took a breath before answering, saying out loud what he had already decided after deliberating for many hours. “If she knows, if she’s involved, then I don’t care what happens to her.”

  “Will you do it?”

  Scythe froze, trying to envision the situation. Kill Lena and Ian? Could he do it? Despite what he had said, he was appalled by the idea.

  “The Blades will see it done,” interrupted Rend smoothly. He lightly reprimanded his cousin, “Even I did not kill before fifteen, cousin, and never a friend.”

  Satisfied, Keyrin said, “Then, let’s arrange it.”

  Scythe’s shoulders slumped forward, and he felt the muscles in his back relaxing. He hadn't realized how tense he had been. He sighed, “Thanks, Keyrin.”

  “I’ll be the one thanking you if it works.”

  They put their heads together and began to plan.

  Late into the night Rend complained, “So many variables and so little information. The lack of a solid, clear cut plan makes me very nervous. This whole thing is a rickety boat trying to cross a wide ocean.” He had become increasingly irritable, occasionally getting up and pacing, or snapping uncharacteristically at Keyrin.

  Their plan consisted of taking a small unit of Blades out to the camp where Lena and Ian agreed to wait until they heard from Scythe. Scythe didn’t believe he would have any problem getting in to talk to them since the border patrol expected him to return. If Lena and Ian were ignorant of the abductions and if they agreed to help, then a strategy for locating the missing Kin would be made with them at that time, with their knowledge of detention procedures, possible locations and connections in the military. Assuming they could locate the Kin, the rescue plan would have to be made later, when they had the location, the condition of and number of prisoners. With all the variables still unknown, all they really had was the skeleton of a plan.

  “I know, but I can’t see how we can proceed without first determining if Scythe’s Human friends are going to be an asset or not. So, for now, we’ll stick with this one.”

  “You have Humans in the city looking now, we could use their help...”

  “No, Ambassador Hurg won’t put his spies on our ‘rickety little boat.’ Besides, who knows if this Lena won’t turn them in right away? You know my mind. I’m not giving your Humans any Kin secrets. That would be stupid.”

  “Okay, I can see that.” Scythe thought for a moment, “Do you think any Kin could be working for the Humans the same way?”

  “No,” said Rend immediately, but Keyrin sat back thoughtfully.

  Finally he answered, “It isn’t impossible, it would just be very difficult to get away with. I think we should keep this whole plan between us and as few Blades as possible. If the Humans get wind of this search and rescue operation, it will all be over.”

  “If they have someone here, then they already know that you found out about the abductions six months ago. It might already be too late,” Rend said anxiously. His heart was pounding and his eyes had grown wide, which made Scythe wonder again at his friend’s unusual behavior.

  “We can’t do anything about what may or may not have already happened, cousin. What we can do is find out what the situation is now, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

  Rend nodded and then a visible effort to calm himself. In a moment, he was almost back to his typical, casual self.

  Keyrin looked across at Scythe, patiently waiting for him to put the pieces together, which he did belatedly. With a jolt he looked at his friend, wondering which of his loved ones had gone missing three years ago. Rend shared nothing, and Scythe lowered his eyes, wrapping himself up in the cold.

  Keyrin said, “Let’s plan on your moving out in two days, an hour before dawn. That would give us tomorrow for the Blades to do a recon of the target area. We need to update our information about their scouts, patrols, and surveillance devices. It would be better to have a week to really nail that, but we’re going to go ahead and do a rush job on it. We’ll get some of that intel from our usual sources, the rest we'll have to get the hard way. Let's see what we can have by tomorrow. I’ll schedule a fake delivery to our sister city Falling Waters as a cover and arrange for the Blades to replace our forward scouts for two hours before you leave and five hours after, so no one will spot you heading out or returning from the borderlands. You should be able to get out to the camp, have your meeting and then hightail it to Falling Waters in that much time. Make your delivery and then get back here. Report to me immediately. No discussing it with anyone outside of the team with the exception of the involved Blades. No transmissions of any kind.”

  “Understood,” responded Rend. “We shouldn’t need more than Smoke, and maybe one or two more...”

  “Leandra or Lex, I think.”

  “Either one.”

  “Take them both.”

  “Okay, five then. Anything else?”

  “We’ll meet here again tomorrow night to finalize everything. Have everyone here at eight.”

  Scythe hesitated before getting up, “Keyrin, I want to ask you something, but I not sure if it’s okay or not...”

  “Just ask, then. I’ll tell you if you’re overstepping yourself.”

  “Okay.” Scythe delayed a few more seconds before asking, “I know that you killed the Humans out of anger and for vengeance; I understand why that was done. What I don’t understand is why you kidnapped them first. Why not just kill them, like the others?”

  Keyrin considered his answer respectfully before speaking, “You really aren’t like us if you even have to ask, Scythe. It’s not enough for the Humans to lose their lives, or the lives of their loved ones. They have to hurt, as much as it is possible for creatures like that to really suffer. After we found out about the abductions, what really tormented us was not knowing what had become of our loved ones. The suffering from a death, as difficult as it is, will fade over time, but the misery of separation without death...that is true agony. Hope is your true enemy in a situation like that. It is hope that they live, fighting with the certainty that they couldn’t still be alive after all that time, and the fear that surviving might be worse than death, that tortures the few Kin who are unfortunate enough to bear the burden of this terrible truth.

  “I wanted the Humans to feel that pain; let them feel what it’s like to wonder, every minute for weeks on end, if their loved one lives, or suffers, or is dead. Finally, as the months drag on, let them pray, consumed with guilt, for news of a death, just so they can be free of the pain.”

  He leaned forward, rigid, “But that isn’t enough, Scythe, to satisfy me, a Prince of the Blood, a failed pro
tector of the Kin. I had them brought here because I wanted to do it myself; I wanted to be the one to steal their vulgar little lives.” Keyrin’s face glowed with satisfaction.

  Chapter 10

  Scythe walked slowly up to the camp, finding for the second time that he preferred the direct method to smarter and safer ways of getting into places. As he approached the only gate in the tall fence, he slowed down even more, holding up his hands and calling out to the guards, “Hello. My name is Scythe...Simon. I need to see Lena or Ian Young.”

  “On the ground, hands and legs out and don’t move.”

  Scythe obeyed without commenting, easing himself onto the ground and spreading his limbs. Three guards approached him cautiously, while another hung back by the gate. An officer jogged over and directed two of the guards to stand at a distance. One of these, a young man with red hair and freckles, pointed his weapon at Scythe and said, “I still can’t believe it, a Kin that speaks Human. That is so freaky.”

  “Shut up, Han. Okay, boy, I’m gonna search you. No quick movements, or this pup will probably shoot your foot off. You understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” responded Scythe, letting the cold out. It sprung from his chest and spread throughout his body until he was nice and cool. He hardly felt the hands patting him down.

  “Okay, get up real slow. Hands on your head. Right, I’m gonna cuff you now.”

  Han’s voice was pitched a little higher than normal, “Why is he so damn relaxed? This has got to be some kind of trap. Check him again.” He started to look out into the bush, searching for a target.

  “Lower your weapon and keep your eye on the target, before you make a goddam ton of paperwork for me,” the seasoned soldier ordered before grumbling under his breath, “They got to send me the greenest ones they can find. It never fails.” To Scythe, he said, “Right hand.” When Scythe lowered his right hand, bringing it behind his back, the man locked his thumb up in a tight, self adjusting noose. “Left.” He did the same with the second hand, tugging on them to make sure they were secure.

  He looked up at his partner, an older gentleman who was watching the surrounding area. “Okay, let’s go. Back it up, boys.” Han and his equally young partner started backing up toward the gate, keeping their guns pointed at Scythe, who calmly walked forward in front of his guide. The last guard brought up the rear, eyes scanning the area. When they reached the gate, the man in charge said, “Sit down right there, boy, and we’ll see what we can do for you.”

  Scythe sat down, looking into his lap. He was trying to appear as cooperative as possible, since everyone was reacting a lot more cautiously than he had expected.

  “Look at his skin, what a freak.”

  “Han, first, shut the hell up or you will be on my shit list for a month. You will literally be cleaning up shit. Second, go get Lena and bring her and Ian out here. When you get back here, you will not speak. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.” Scythe listened to him jog off into the camp, and took note of how far he traveled before knocking on a door.

  Next to him, the older soldier was chuckling, “I bet thirty that he shoots one of us before the year is out.”

  “One of us includes himself?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then, no bet.”

  “Scythe!” Lena’s voice called across the yard. He looked up to see her running toward him with Ian right behind. Despite his doubts and his fears, he couldn’t repress the excitement he felt at seeing his friends again. It was obvious that they were pleased to see him, too, which touched him. His cold barrier began to thaw further when she said sharply, “Get those damn things off him right now. Forget it, I’ll do it.” She knelt down behind him and started working at the cuffs.

  “Yes, ma’am. The cuffs are procedure.”

  “You have standing orders to let him in, so don’t give me procedure, Ryan.”

  “All Kin are going to be searched and detained before I let them in this camp, period.”

  “Okay, let’s go. Good job, gentlemen, for saving us from the thirteen-year-old. Now get out there and take down those bunnies.”

  Ian rolled his eyes, “Lena, don’t harass them for doing their job.”

  She grabbed Scythe’s arm, pulling him into the camp and sending her brother a narrow look. She led him to the cabin where the three of them had stayed briefly before Scythe had left for Poinsea. Once inside, she embraced him and Ian patted him on the back, his face beaming.

  Ian said, “Lena was a real mess while you were gone; we’re both glad to have you back.”

  Lena stepped back and looked him over. “You okay? God, I was really regretting the whole thing, thinking we’d never see you again. Now, what’s with the arms?” She squeezed his right arm, which had already begun to build muscle from his intensive conditioning.

  “I’ve been working out.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Well, I was inducted into the military.”

  “WHAT! You’re only thirteen! What kind of primitives are they?”

  Scythe laughed, feeling happy just being around her and trying hard to put off his other, more difficult responsibilities for a few more minutes. He followed a high pitched buzzing to a small desk, pulled the top drawer out and flipped it over to reveal a small listening device. He took out one of the knives that he had hidden apparently very well and disabled it quickly, getting a satisfied feeling when the whining shut off. He repeated the process once more, commenting with grudging respect about the last one, which he might have missed if he hadn’t already been looking for it. “They are getting better. This one has a dampener on it. I can barely hear it, but there is a buzzing from the mechanism that I can still pick up if I concentrate.”

  “That never ceases to amaze me,” Lena said appreciatively. “You are a handy guy to have around, Scythe.” Without warning, she hugged him again.

  Scythe was really hoping he was right about Ian and Lena.

  Ian grinned at his sister and offered, “You want something to eat or drink? I can get whatever, as long as whatever is standard military fare.”

  “No thanks, I’m good for now.” He turned to Lena, “I’m sorry I made you worry, there was no way I could get back sooner.”

  “I know. Hey, don’t worry about it. You’re back and that’s all that matters now.” Lena’s eyes widened at the change in Scythe’s expression. “Oh my god! I was right, Ian, he’s going back.”

  Scythe didn’t respond. The truth was already on his face.

  Ian corrected, “I was right, and, well, it’s not like we didn’t anticipate it.” He explained to Scythe, “You did live ten years of your life there with your family. We figured it was the reason you volunteered to help.”

  “Is that what everyone thinks?”

  “Oh no, they all think you’re their stooge,” smirked Lena. “Only Ian and I know you well enough to have guessed who the real stooges were. We just weren’t sure you’d come back and report about the attacks to us. That is why you came back, right?”

  “Thanks for understanding. I am planning on going back, but I wanted to let you in on some information and ask for your help before I do. The only thing is, I want to talk to you privately, without anyone else listening, because the stuff I have to tell you is...”

  “Not for everyone to hear,” completed Ian.

  “Right.”

  “You mean, out of the camp?”

  “You think we could arrange it?”

  “Will we be meeting with other Kin?” Lena’s heartbeat jumped once and then began to beat faster.

  “Yes.”

  “Will it be dangerous for us?” asked Ian seriously.

  “Definitely.”

  “Will we learn what happened to the kids?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, let’s go.”

  “Wait, how are we going to get out?”

  “You’ll see.” Lena headed for the door, but before she reached it, Scythe grabbed her hand; she looked back at him curio
usly.

  “Lena, it will be very dangerous. You could be killed.”

  She looked at Ian, “Maybe you should stay behind. The wife won’t like it if you come home dead.”

  Ian just looked at her patiently.

  “Yeah, he’s not gonna let me go alone, so I guess it’s all or nothing. I know, let’s try this one: Scythe, if you tell me not to go, I won’t.” Her sharp look was only slightly softened by her wry grin.

  Meeting them again, talking with them, seeing the sincere way they interacted with him, reassured Scythe. He was pretty sure that he had judged them correctly from the start. He told himself that there was no way that they could be involved, took a breath, and said, “Fine, let’s go.”

  Lena led them across the camp, saying, “The key here is to play on two things: a soldier’s training to follow orders and a soldier’s unwillingness to do any work.”

  When they reached the gate, they walked straight out without stopping, passing right between the two guards. They had only covered five feet before one shouted, “Hold on, Miss Lena. I got to let the sergeant know you’re going...”

  “I’ll be right back, maybe ten minutes.”

  “You’ll need an escort, ma’am.”

  “No, I don’t.” They were now fifteen feet away. “I am a soldier, soldier. Back in ten.” She turned to Scythe, asking, “Which way?”

  “It doesn’t really matter. They’re already on us. They’ll follow wherever we go, but if we have a choice, there is a good place over to the right. This way.”