The Peacekkeeper Journals: The Joining [Book 1]

by CJ England

  Kira also stepped back. She was thoughtful as she stared at the young Suprahuman. He was clever, turning that around the way he did.

  "Now what?" she questioned her joined.

  "You don't believe he beat the old guy fairly, do you?" Patrick asked, from his hidden position.

  Kira shook her head.

  "Do you need to touch The Sovereign, so you can understand what happened?" Danolas reminded the others of her need to touch each of them at different times. Kira quickly translated for Patrick who could not hear clearly since he wasn't yet linked.

  "Yes, I need to touch him. He lives, that much I know, but his power is held at bay. If this usurper's gift is speed, he shouldn't be able to keep The Sovereign in such a state."

  "He's lost a lot of blood. He may just be unconscious," Lucas remarked.

  "I must touch him to find out."

  They all thought for a moment. They had the strength to force Superjack to allow Kira to check on The Sovereign, but that was fraught with danger. Kira could get hurt, or the kid could just up and kill The Sovereign now, rather than waiting.

  "Perhaps, A Ghra ... you can deceive him into thinking you must see the sovereign face to face. Make this upstart think you don't believe that is the sovereign."

  "What good will that do?" Lucas asked Gallegar.

  "If he doesn't have the real Sovereign, how can he say he beat him? All you need is to get close."

  Kira thought a moment. Gallegar's plan was a good one. It was up to her to make it work. “Superjack!” she called imperiously.

  "Yeah, what is it? Are you ready to admit I am the new sovereign?"

  "No, I cannot do anything until I examine the man you have there. Assuming that is The Sovereign?"

  "It's him. Trust me."

  Kira laughed. “I do not trust anyone who wishes me harm, and you have shown that clear enough so far. Let me examine the body. Allow me to see his face. Then I can know for sure where my loyalties should lie."

  Superjack looked at her calculatingly. “You mean, if I can prove to you the body there is the old sovereign, you will give your allegiance to me?"

  Kira smiled. “Once I know who it is you say you triumphed over, then I will know who to join with."

  Her words were noncommittal, but Superjack was one who heard what he wanted to. “How do I know you won't try anything?"

  Kira's lip curled. “A show of my good faith.” She turned to Gallegar and Lucas.

  "Change yourselves back. Danolas, give him back his monkey men ... gently."

  Lucas and Gallegar didn't look happy, but a second later, they had returned their bodies to the way they normally looked. A heartbeat after that, the three goons from the stage dropped heavily to the ground in front of Superjack.

  "All right?” she asked.

  "All right.” Superjack sat back in his chair to watch.

  Kira, Gallegar and Lucas moved forward.

  "Wait!” The young Suprahuman stopped them. “The vampire and the shapeshifter stay there. You go alone.” He grinned at her, thinking he had cut her off from her allies.

  "Kira...” warned Lucas

  "I will be all right, my wolf. You are all close enough to protect me.” Kira pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  She met Gallegar's serious eyes and then stepped up on the stage. Her heart was in her throat as she made her way to the table and its horrible trophy. The warm metallic smell of blood filled her nostrils. She sensed Gallegar's quickly smothered reaction to it as he smelled it through her, and she soothed him without thinking.

  Stepping closer, Kira felt the warmth of The Sovereign's body. Not dead yet. Her heart tripped a little.

  Kira moved so she could brush the hair off The Sovereign's battered face. The hair was still soft and silky even though it was matted with blood. His face though bruised, was handsome with a high forehead and strong jaw. His long black lashes fanned over his cheeks.

  As soon as she touched his face, Kira could feel the power move through her. His power battled to meet hers, but was held back behind a hidden curtain. She closed her eyes and pressed through the curtain calling him, seeking that which made him what he was.

  * * * *

  Benjamin Cassidy, Sovereign of the Suprahumans heard the siren call. His consciousness wavered, held captive by fetters of thick bitter poison. He fought it, trying to break free to answer the beautiful voice that was calling to him. He struggled up, up, up, as though fighting through syrupy bands of confused thought.

  The higher he came, the more conscious he became of his body's agony. He writhed, feeling sharp searing pains in his hands and feet. The siren voice soothed him, quieted him. He stopped moving to better hear it.

  "Sovereign, can you hear me? Come to me, Sovereign Lord. Fight ... fight what has been done to you."

  "Who ... are ... you ... “ Benjamin whispered, his voice tight with pain.

  "Oh ... “ the voice filled with joy. "I have found you. I despaired of getting through to you, Sovereign."

  "Who ... are ... you ... “ Benjamin asked again. He felt his consciousness slip but the beautiful voice called him again, giving him strength.

  "I am Kira. I am Peacekeeper. I have come for you, Sovereign. I am for you, Benjamin Cassidy. You are for me."

  "I don't understand. Am I dead? Are you an angel? What has happened?" Benjamin's voice grew a little stronger.

  The voice—Kira—spoke softly, but there was anger in it. "You are not dead, Benjamin, and I am no angel. I am the Peacekeeper. I have been sent to join with you against your enemies. You have been betrayed by one of your own. He is claiming he did battle with you, and beat you in fair combat, but this I do not believe."

  "Who?" Benjamin asked.

  "A young enhanced by the name of Superjack. He is the one."

  "Superjack?" Benjamin was amazed. Even if that twerp had gotten the drop on him with his hyper-speed, Benjamin should have cleaned his clock. What is going on? His thoughts were muddy and it was hard to sift through them.

  "I don't remember fighting a battle with him. What did he do to me?"

  Kira's voice sighed. “It is better to show you, Benjamin, than to tell you. Please, what you see will distress you, but you must remain calm. It is very important you understand this."

  "All right.” Benjamin would have said anything, just to get this Kira to show him the whole picture.

  "Remember, be calm ... “ The voice faded away and in its place came a picture.

  Benjamin could see it was the meeting room, where he judged disputes and held celebrations. The room was filled with Suprahumans, except for a group hidden by the stair entrance and a couple of men near the stage. There was also another, a woman kneeling in front of a table where hung ... Benjamin jerked with shock.

  Kira's voice soothed him quietly. "Easy, Sovereign, please ... be easy."

  It was him. It was his own body that hung so callously, pinned to the table with his own ceremonial daggers. He was so beat up, he barely recognized himself. He felt a shout rise in his throat, but Kira's voice was there, preventing him from crying out.

  "Shhh ... if he knows you are awake before I can change what has been done to you, he may kill you. Tell me what you remember."

  Benjamin fought down his anger. It was actually helpful, breaking him free of the cold sluggishness of his thoughts. He tried to go back in time to the last thing he remembered.

  "I was sitting in my chamber ... reading some papers on the genetics of beast changers.” Benjamin frowned mentally, trying to replay the moment in his mind. “I was just reading. I had a glass of wine. It had gone warm, so I didn't finish it. I was hungry, and just about to go down to the kitchen for a snack."

  He stopped for a minute. Something hovered just on the other side of his consciousness. He felt Kira lend him strength. That in itself was amazing, but he didn't have time to act on it, because the thought that had been escaping rushed back with a bang.

  "I was stung by something. I thought it was a bee, but my en
hancements prevent any damage so I didn't worry about it."

  "Where were you stung, Benjamin?"

  "On the arm. What does it matter?"

  Kira didn't answer for so long, Benjamin was afraid she was gone, a figment of his tortured mind. He felt himself falling back beneath the waves of poison and he struggled to maintain his balance.

  Kira returned to whisper in his ear, her voice grave. "It was no bee, Sovereign. You were injected by a needle. He drugged you."

  "Impossible," Benjamin argued. "Nothing can harm me."

  "Something did. Now that I know what I am looking for, I can see the drug running through your body. Sovereign, he did not battle you at all. He drugged you and—"

  "And carved me up like a Thanksgiving turkey. That son of a bitch. How? What drug could do that?"

  "Is this not a genetics lab?"

  The question stopped him in his tracks. He suddenly remembered that Superjack, alias Myron Feldmen, was the head scientist in the labs. Theoretically, he could have come up with something.

  "Myron ... the little weasel—" He snarled.

  "Sovereign...” Kira's voice interrupted his grousing. “I had been sent to help you even before I knew what this Myron had done. I am Peacekeeper. By joining, we will become a part of each other. I have come to join with you to help you take care of your kind. There is a war coming. One that will be waged against all of the supernatural in the city. We must be prepared. We must stand together."

  "I am not in any position to help you now, sweetheart. What can I do?"

  "You have been chosen for me. There are others here, strong leaders who have also joined with me. Together, we can heal you so you may reclaim your seat of power. If that is what you wish."

  "You're telling me you can fix me up so I have no wounds. So I can break that little bastard's neck myself."

  "If you wish it." Kira's voice was amused. "Or I can show your people my power, and do it for you."

  Benjamin stopped listening. He wanted to feel his hands around Superjack's neck. He wanted to feel the bones breaking. He was a little shocked at the savagery of his thoughts. So she wants to join with me? He wasn't in any shape for that, but if she could get him to where he could fight ... well, hell, he'd do whatever she wanted.

  "Okay, sweetheart, where do I sign up?"

  Chapter 12

  Danolas felt Kira make contact with Benjamin Cassidy, known as The Sovereign. With his ability to sense Kira in a stronger way than his brethren, Danolas was in the position to monitor the conversation and relay it to Gallegar, Lucas and Patrick. They all knew when Benjamin accepted their Lady for himself.

  Gallegar kept a weathered eye on Superjack. He sat in the chair for a while, but as Kira's time of communicating with The Sovereign grew longer, he rose and now paced back and forth on the stage. Finally it became too much for him. He stomped over to where Kira stood next to Benjamin.

  "Enough! You should have been able to tell who that is by now. All of us know. That is the Sovereign."

  "Quiet!” Gallegar commanded. “You don't want to disturb our Lady when she is using her power.” He smiled chillingly. “You never know what may happen."

  Superjack stared at him, furious, but afraid to do anything. He marched back over to his chair and threw himself down angrily. “One more minute,” he demanded. “Tell the bitch. She's running out of time."

  Lucas growled at Superjack. “Watch your tongue ... Myron. You wouldn't want to get it sliced off, would you?"

  Superjack flushed at hearing his name. “How did you ... Never mind. My name is now Superjack, the fastest of all the Suprahumans. You couldn't catch me."

  Lucas used his shapeshifter speed and planted himself in front of Superjack, his hands placed on the arms of his chair.

  Superjack blinked at his alacrity and his face tuned pasty. He hadn't seen Lucas move.

  Lucas smiled, wishing he could control his fangs like Gallegar. “You don't know much about my people, do you ... Myron? I look forward to teaching you about all of my abilities."

  He pushed himself off the chair, and backed down to stand next to Gallegar. “And you haven't even seen a vampire move."

  Gallegar still wore that chilling smile. “My friend ... don't give away all our secrets."

  Superjack looked away, and his gaze caught Kira still kneeling beside The Sovereign. He looked back at them, his expression smug. “Tell her to get away from him. It's time for the execution."

  On the psychic plain, deep in Benjamin's mind, Kira heard Danolas’ warning time was running out. She jerked herself up and out of The Sovereign. Coming to her feet, she swung around and called to Gallegar.

  "I need more time!” In her mind, she added, "I must join with him, now. It is the only way to heal him. To bring him back to what he was."

  Turning, she hurled herself on Benjamin's body. She felt the blood seep into her clothing, cold and sticky. She emptied herself back into Benjamin's consciousness.

  "I understand, A Ghra ... We will protect you." Gallegar turned and nodded to Lucas, who nodded back. They both felt Danolas’ agreement, and Patrick's assurances through the witch.

  "To me!” Gallegar shouted. He sent a burst of green power into the crowd. Lucas growled, as his claws again ripped from his fingers. They both charged over and stood at Kira's back. Danolas appeared in a puff of smoke next to them. Patrick popped in down below as he marshaled the Ethereals in the building.

  Gabriel, Noah, Jorad and Tobias, Danolas’ other witch guard, made their way through the throng of Suprahumans, and took up positions around the part of the stage that held the table.

  Superjack screamed for his people. He raced back and forth, his ability to use his hyper-speed in battle limited by his inexperience. The monkeymen and a few others who had shared the stage with him obeyed him and jumped into the battle. Others from the crowd also began to fight.

  Gallegar's vampiric power tore through their enemies. Lucas’ howl struck fear into the enhanced humans, his claws slashing as he defended Kira. Danolas’ staff waved and jumped in his hands. Incantations spilled from his mouth.

  Smaller wands moved frantically as the lesser witches fought, and bodies were thrown across the stage by Gabriel and Noah.

  Back on the psychic plain, Kira slipped into Benjamin's mind. He let out his breath in relief as he felt her return. "I though you had left me."

  "No, my Sovereign. I just had to make sure we were protected while we join. Your friend, Superjack, wants to kill you a bit sooner than expected."

  Benjamin started, his body jerking on both plains, causing agony to bloom in his body. "Are we safe?" he gasped out. He felt Kira's soothing power once again.

  "For the moment. My Chosen and their people will protect us."

  "I can't wait to meet them." He felt her smile.

  "You will be a part of us all very soon."

  He sensed her retreating a little. “Where are you going?"

  "I must make you aware of me in all ways, Benjamin. I need you to open your mind to me. I have been holding the pain in your body at bay, but cannot do that while we join. The pain will be great. I am sorry."

  "Do what ya gotta. The quicker the better."

  "Open yourself to me, Benjamin. Feel my essence. Know my power."

  Benjamin relaxed himself as best as he could, since it was hard to relax his body in his mind. He sensed the power he knew as Kira touching him. A picture came into his mind, forming slowly out of the shadows. For the first time, Benjamin saw her. A low whistle came from him. The face matched the voice. The Peacekeeper was gorgeous.

  She walked toward him, and Benjamin was surprised when he saw his psychic self walk forward to meet her. Her head only came up to his breastbone.

  "You are beautiful." It was the first thing out of his mouth. She smiled at him and lovingly ran her fingers down his arms.

  "It is time, Sovereign. Do you wish to join with me?"

  "Oh yeah!" Now that he saw her, he was more than ready.

&
nbsp; She pressed herself against him. Her hands went to his back and gently stroked.

  Benjamin returned the favor stroking her hair, her back. Without warning, Kira's psychic shielding dropped. Pain stabbed through him, sharp and hot. He felt like his whole body was on fire. He groaned into the top of her head.

  "The pain is from all your wounds. I cannot keep it out any longer." Her tear-filled voice touched him. "Join with me now, and the pain will end."

  Benjamin stood still, trying to hold the pain at bay. It was so bad he was afraid he might pass out. The only good thing about it was the drug had been flushed out when the burst of pain came in. He could think clearly again. Well, as clearly as a man bleeding from twenty wounds could think.

  He opened his eyes and saw Kira's power floating around him. It was bright gold, and had the scent of flowers to it.

  "Moon flowers..."

  The power hovered around him, waiting, but for what? He got his answer when his own power swelled up out of him to join it. He watched as the two powers seemed to play tag, almost playfully. His chased Kira's gold, the red power twirling around it, herding it one way and then another.

  Kira's power was patient, allowing the game, but after a time the golden power pushed back at his. He felt his power tremble, irritated she would stand in his way. The red cloud of power huffed and squirmed, but eventually the gold quieted the red and gave it back to him to control.

  Wrapped in his own power, Benjamin felt Kira remove the knives that pierced his flesh. As each dagger was removed, he felt a new gushing of pain and blood. He ground his teeth against the pain, determined not to cry out. Kira sobbed softly and he lifted a ruined hand to calm her. The pain was tremendous.

  "Take what I have to give you, Benjamin. Take the healing. Take my love." Benjamin felt her hands moving over his body. It wasn't sexual. In fact, he was surprised to find he wasn't thinking of Kira in that way. Her hands were cool and as she passed them over the wounds on his body; the pain disappeared. The more she touched him, the better he felt. His strength returned, and with it his enhancements.

  The touching continued, but now it was Benjamin who touched her. Running his hands over her face, her body, he gave back to her what he had taken. Her strength. He opened himself wider to her and let her see the type of man he was. What made him special. What made him a Suprahuman.