12.21.12: The Vessel (The Altunai Annals)

by Killian McRae

  Or, as she heard the clap of thunder overhead and sensed the pressure building in the air, arcing toward rain, the weather to get all crazy.

  Victoria tip-toed closer, thankful for the night. She took advantage of the black cloak and of the dim streetlamps in this industrial part of town. With feather light and fierce footfalls, she darted across the lane and pressed her back into the exterior brick of Dmitri’s building. Further up the alley, she noticed the dock-bay doors: two-story steel blankets that secured a docking area. Behind them, she heard voices.

  An instant buzz in her brain preceded a stream of images flooding her mind’s eye. Alex. She was close enough to Alex to access his thoughts. Only problem with that was, if he was close enough, Dmitri may be as well. Though Victoria’s mind was secure from the Altunai unless she intentionally let him in, she couldn’t say the same for all the humans in the vicinity. Hector Gonzalez would be dead by now, but it was more than likely that Sheppard Smyth was still alive and being kept close by if Dmitri had found the command she planted in his subconscious and muted it. Damn, if there was one person that Victoria didn’t want Dmitri’s head getting the green light for, it was Smyth. Plus, if Shep saw Alex, and Alex shared anything about how Christine had entered his life ...

  Damn, damn.

  Looking through Alex’s eyes in her mind, she saw only black; he had been blindfolded. From the smell, taste, and sounds he was sensing, she concluded that this was a Plaxis warehouse. Dmitri had many facilities where he put anything and everything he thought might suggest evidence of the Altunais’ existence. At least, until he could sell it on the black market. He had no problem with the objects existing but staying private, and bent Altunai law when the price tag an object might fetch was high enough. Why he needed to keep growing his wealth and power so close to the end of the isolation, she had no idea. Maybe it was just an exercise of his vanity. Or, maybe he figured out that Isis was about to be looking over his project management skills. There was a certain justification to be made for spreading out contraband to collectors with just as much interest in keeping the holdings private.

  “Alex!” she called to him mentally. The way his head began to dart about fruitlessly told her she had heard him. “Don’t talk. And for Ra’s sake, stop jerking around.”

  Obediently, he stilled. “Where are you?”

  “Outside the building. Have you seen the amulet?”

  “No.”

  “Dmitri?”

  “Not yet, but I think he’s coming. The alpha goon who seems to be running this show just left.”

  “Are you hurt?”

  Damn, what was she doing? Alex had just told her that Dmitri was likely on his way. No time for chit-chat. So what if he was hurt? She could drag him bloodied and bruised from the building after she broke in and kicked ass.

  “No,” he finally replied, in a tone heavy with qualification. “But I feel ... tingly.”

  “Either you’ve been drugged, or the amulet is coming closer to you.”

  “But why does it make me tingly?”

  Yeah, hard to explain that one. “It wants to be released by an Altunai. You have enough of my genetic code now that it recognizes you as someone that might claim it. It’s tempting you. Look, Alex, I’m going to get you out, but I have to wait for the right moment. Be ready to run.”

  “I’m sorry, I screwed up.”

  Victoria bit her lip, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes. “It’s my fault, Alex. This is my battle, not yours.” She sighed, mentally as well as physically. “You tried your best. Now just hold tight.”

  No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Alex’s head swung to the side again. A procession was making its way down toward poor Alex bound to the chair, likely a guard at each side. The sounds of footfalls on a set of metal stairs told her there were three, male by the heavy sound of their steps.

  As the voices filled Alex’s ears, Victoria listened in and cautiously took a few more steps back. She could keep Dmitri out of her head, but she was powerless to block the flow of consciousness through her from all the humans in the room as soon as he realized that channel was open. It wouldn’t take but a few seconds to scan through Shep Smyth’s mind and see everything, if he knew what to look for.

  Oh, damn, Victoria thought, what if Smyth was one of the men who just entered the room? Oh, this was not good.

  Her skin itched with determination to free Alex. And possibly, if he was there, Smyth. And to get the amulet. Holy hell, though, how much of this could she really pull off with a room full of trained paramilitary and the one man who had ever been able to crawl under her skin inside? She had to get her priorities straight and now.

  Problem was, she needed to do it all.

  Problem also was, she simply couldn’t.

  The surge of frustration-born power flowed through her as lightning flashed across the sky. Damn, she had to get that in check now. Causing a hurricane to form over London was not going to help. Worse, if her subconscious energy grab went too far, she was going to start rending the earth beneath her into pieces. Or blow England off the face of the planet. She really wasn’t in the mood to be the cause of another island sinking into the sea, particularly one where she had a rather nice summer home.

  Making sure her bag was secure against her, she proceeded forward. With measured steps, she inched toward the set of double doors and stretched out her mind, trying to stay just close enough to hear and see through Alex’s senses.

  What she saw made all hell break loose: Shep Smyth and Alex Cezanne, eyes wide, adrenaline pumping, shouting in unison, “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Worse still, was an upward glance Alex took of Dmitri, and the view of Dmitri’s face broiling, his teeth gnashing, his fists clenching.

  Oh, no! she thought. Alex’s eyes. He thinks I’ve bonded Alex by the bed.

  She felt a growl building in her throat, a very primal, animalistic roar as the heavens opened up, reflecting her intensity, bringing forth a rain born of rage. Using the compass of her powers, she pushed with her mind against the closed doors. Damn, if this sort of action wasn’t going to leave her starved of energy like a son of a bitch. But at the moment, that was her last concern. She kept her focus on getting Alex as far away from Dmitri as possible.

  As the aluminum began to bend under her mental strong hand, she felt the familiar rush of multiple minds passing through hers. Dmitri had caught on to the network, and every mortal mind in the vicinity spilled out like a can of creamed corn. Including Shep’s, and maybe Alex’s if the proxy wasn’t being careful.

  “Open up!” she bellowed at the door, as though saying it out loud would be its breaking point. And, lucky her, it was.

  As the metal shield split in two, rolling inward, she dived through an opening barely wide enough to allow her passage. Outside, flashes of lightning swarmed the sky, creating a strobe backdrop for her entrance.

  Of course, Dmitri wasn’t surprised to see her. “Finally.”

  Three black-clad commandos rushed her, guns poised for attack. Perfect, she thought, bring it on. She knew the type of warrior stock Dmitri tended to employ were all about the slap downs, and she had no problem with hand-to-hand combat. No sooner had they thrown punches than Victoria responded, trading blow for blow. They were so weak compared to her, mere children in her eyes and in combat. Their life forces, on the other hand, were delicious, and after having sucked two dry, she placed her hands on the skull of the third and pulled all his strength from him, ripping his life from him instantly.

  “Didn’t I tell you, Shep?” she heard Dmitri say in the background with a demented sense of pride. “So very impressive.”

  However, Shep’s mind was too focused on Alex to respond. Even over the hum of all the thoughts passing through her from others, she could hear distinctly his confusion, the re
peated whys and hows of his wife’s one sibling being held prisoner by Dmitri Kronastia. The whys of Alex being bound as though he were a threat to anybody. He couldn’t understand. Sweet little Alex?

  Though, on a second look, there was nothing little about him. The guy had grown both up and out since last he had saw him. He must have put on a good thirty pounds of muscle, and his eyes ... holiest of cows, they were the same inhuman hue as Victoria Kent’s.

  Dmitri turned his face to Alex, then Shep, giving each a quick nod. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me.”

  -Ψ-

  As Kronastia made his way toward Victoria, she threw another two men dead to the floor. Shep’s mind was in full meltdown mode; he couldn’t make teads or hails of this. Alex, taking advantage of the moment of Dmitri’s distraction, jerked his body, forcing the chair to gain the distance between them.

  “Shep, we don’t have time for the hows or the whys,” Alex said determinedly, as though he were reading Shep’s mind. “We need to get out of here. Now, if not sooner.”

  “How?”

  “Untie me,” Alex interjected.

  “I don’t understand.”

  Another body flew through the air, landing dead in the space beside them. The head was nearly twisted off the neck, a display of physical domination he had never before witnessed.

  “Shep, we are both going to end up like this guy if you don’t untie me.”

  Uncomprehending but prepared to take his brother-in-law’s word, Shep shook himself from his confusion and went to work on unbinding Alex. His wrists were in cuffs—there would be no getting those off—but he was able with some effort to undo the ropes that tied his arms and ankles to the chair, allowing Alex to rise to his feet.

  “I know you’re confused right now, but I need you to tell me this. Have you seen a green amulet?”

  “What? Yes, Dmitri has it.”

  It was at this moment that both Shep and Alex noticed the eerie silence fall around them. Looking across the way, their eyes landed just in time on Victoria, the last henchmen’s body slumping to the ground lifeless. Her wild eyes were fixed on Dmitri as they began a balanced circling.

  “Been a while, Guardian.” Her frame held its poise, as though she might have to throw him down at any moment. “Interesting company you keep these days.”

  His face came into view as he arced their path. “I could say the same of you. But I’m not really surprised.”

  “I don’t know why you would be. Enough small talk. You wanted me here, and here I am. Mind telling me why?”

  Her body froze when Dmitri pulled the amulet from his pocket and held it aloft, dangling it in front of her. Her eyes glazed over. Victoria looked like a starving man being offered bread.

  The corner of Dmitri’s mouth rose. “It wants you. It wants to be claimed.”

  She lunged forward, trying to seize it. “Give it to me, then.”

  Pulling the amulet high overhead, Victoria stumbled forward into Dmitri’s embrace. He caught her under the arm and pulled her close. The gravity between them was nearly tangible, and both Alex and Shep were at a loss as Dmitri pressed his lips to Victoria’s, and Victoria threw her arms around Dmitri.

  She pulled herself to him and sought his kiss with a hunger anyone who’d ever loved would recognize. Dmitri responded, circling his arms behind her and closing whatever distance remained. As they pulled back from their kiss, they began to exchange words in a tongue that Shep couldn’t understand. Dmitri’s words were soft, almost pleading. His hand smoothed over Victoria’s hair, pushing a lock behind her ear. Victoria, just moments ago the dealer of death, melted into him, her replies weighed heavy with conflict.

  Dmitri leaned over to kiss her again, but this time Victoria turned away. He exhaled, disappointed by the move, and tried to bring her lips back to his. She distanced herself, breaking free of his hold. Apparently, Dmitri didn’t like that. Both his face and his words grew heated. When he tried to pivot her around, however, his face met her flying fist.

  In a flash of light, Dmitri disappeared and reformed directly behind Alex. The proxy was too surprised by the occurrence and had no time to defend himself before Dmitri had him in a headlock.

  “Damn, it feels good to be able to port like that.” Dmitri treated Alex like a ragdoll, securing him in a bear hug with one arm while holding the amulet out with the other. “Stop being so difficult. We’re almost out of time. I know the amulet is screaming at you. You won’t be able to deny it—or me—much longer.”

  Dmitri spoke directly into Alex’s ear. “You hear it, too, don’t you? Of course, you can. She bonded you, after all. Tell me, did you like sleeping with my wife? And here I thought she was crushing on the dear professor.”

  “Your what?” Alex ground out, trying in vain to free himself.

  Dmitri firmed his hold. “Doesn’t like to tell people that part, does she?”

  Somehow, Alex managed to speak, even though his cheeks were turning blue. “I never touched her that way, I swear.”

  “It’s true!” Victoria shouted out.

  Eyes wide, body trembling, Victoria shocked them. The three men stood like statues, gawking.

  Finally, Dmitri’s grip loosened, letting Alex breathe. “What?”

  Taking slow steps, she nodded. “It’s true. I bonded him by the bed. He’s just such a lovely thing, I couldn’t help it. Want proof?” Her mind pulled up the memory of the few moments during Alex’s transition fever when he mistook her for Monique and pushed the images to Dmitri’s mind.

  Now it was Dmitri who trembled, his face turned ashen. “But I thought … Shep?”

  “Oh, I’ve had my eye on Shep for quite some time. Why do you think I was so pissed when he fell for Christine? She was supposed to do my dirty work, find out how I could get an in with him. Instead, she seduced him. But Shep and I, well …” The recollection of their near kiss wasn’t nearly as long or intense, but for Dmitri, she knew even the instigation that they’d been intimate would set him on edge.

  Dmitri swallowed his tears. “And me?”

  Victoria’s coy eye studied him from tip to toe. “And you what?”

  “You really don’t love me anymore?”

  “Why should I?” she mocked. “I’m not a person to you, I’m your assignment. I’m your duty. You seduced me when I was ignorant, imbued me with immortality, made me love you … All knowing it was temporary. I’m nothing more to you than your way to while away the centuries until Isis’s plaything can return home to victory, fame, and her bed.”

  Alex and Shep, struck dumb, watched as Dmitri wandered forward and collapsed before her. “Never. I never would have left you behind. I never would have returned without you.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “The baktun is ending, and either way your queen judges humanity, I will die.”

  “You don’t love me.” Dmitri’s body slumped. “I did all I have done because I thought you loved me.”

  Victoria, for the first time since her shift in demeanor, bit her lip. “Is that really why you did it, Guardian? Because you thought I loved you?”

  With a heavy sigh, Dmitri raised his gaze. Her eyes softened, then pleaded with him, beseeching him to speak.

  “No,” he finally declared. “It wasn’t. I did it all because I loved you.”

  Victoria bent over and put her hands on his shoulders. “If you love me, grant us your leave.”

  “I cannot!” he bellowed. “Tlalli, you don’t understand. If we work together, we can stop this.”

  Dmitri lunged, but not before Victoria called out, “José, help me!”

  Then, the shot. It all happened too fast.

  José stood, gun smoking, aim fixed on Dmitri. Victoria jumped up and landed a roundhouse kick into Dmitri’s chest. Alex grabbed Shep and pulled him along. They me
t in the midst of the confusion as a growl ripped through the air. Dmitri leapt for Jose, tearing the gun from his hands, but not before the Argentinean had shaken off Victoria’s influence and aimed for Shep. Victoria wrapped her arms about the two men.

  A flash. Then, everything was wet.

  -Ψ-

  Shep instinctively kicked for his dear life, pushing his body beyond anything it had ever endured. He wasn’t certain what had happened to get him where he was: swimming in cold, churning waters, the taste of metal in his mouth. As his arms flailed, he broke the surface with a gasp. His eyes itched, but he tried to focus, to make sense of what was going on.

  “Shep!”

  Alex was nearby, but where? He thrashed about, turning left and right, trying desperately to bob out of the water with enough leverage to gain sight through the dark. Finally, he spotted a roundness in the waves about ten feet away, a set of luminescent eyes sparkling against the ambient light drifting out from the nearby shoreline.

  He propelled himself forward, trying frantically to remember whether or not Alex had ever learned to swim. He hadn’t been very close to Christine’s younger brother, but that was simply because of the nearly fifteen year gap between the siblings.

  As Shep reached Alex, he was relieved to see that he was keeping afloat perfectly. Yet, he was losing buoyancy in his struggle to keep the unconscious form of Victoria Kent above the surface. What had happened to his handcuffs?

  “Victoria managed to burn them off. Don’t know when, but she can do things like that,” Alex answered.

  How was he answering his thoughts?

  “Help me,” Alex begged. “I can’t keep her up.”