Serena pulled harder against the cuffs until her wrists hurt. But all she accomplished was making the big man straddle her once again, his nose so close to what remained of her shorts she could feel his breath.
He turned his knife to her fitted running tank now, slitting the soft cotton open slowly, as if savoring Serena’s fear as she watched him slowly disrobing her. The shredded tank top fell in rags next to what remained of her shoes.
Then the thought suddenly occurred to her, she could see the man’s face! He wasn’t going to just have his way and let her go. Serena closed her eyes and called out in her mind as she felt the blade slipping under her bra and between her breasts. The robust material of her sport bra sprang away from her pert chest, sliced wide open from the middle by the sharp blade. Cutting the shoulder straps, she felt him pull the now useless bra away from her.
She didn’t want to watch him. Her life was about to end tragically. All her martial training was worthless to her now; she had been rendered completely helpless with nothing but a whiff of a simple drug and handcuffs. She suddenly wanted to die. She began sobbing uncontrollably as a wash of fear suddenly gripped her being. For long moments she just lay there with her eyes closed, waiting for where she knew she would feel the steel of her assailant’s blade touch her next, under the liner of what remained of her shorts.
But there was nothing.
All she heard were the sounds of crunching leaves.
Serena opened her eyes to see that the big man had risen to his feet. Through her tears she watched him take a step to one side to face––Rion!?
His knife was now trained on Rion who was just a few yards away and advancing quickly up through the thickly wooded hillside. The man made a skilled thrust at Rion with the big blade. Serena had not seen Rion actually defend himself before at the theater, but now she had full view of him in combat.
Rion’s agility was completely focused. Disciplined. Centered. Both men moved incredibly fast. Serena hand never seen two people move so quickly. Rion caught the wrist of her assailant in mid thrust, halting his blade to a dead stop. With a twist and groan of pain, his adversary’s blade fell to the ground heavily.
The big man whirled and turned out of Rion’s grip and took up a new martial stance ready to strike. Rion stood calmly in his own stance in total focus. The man advanced in a flurry of punches and kicks that Rion either parried, blocked or dodged with only the slightest of movements from his hands and feet. Rion never left his place where he stood. He repelled each of the man’s attacks even though Rion was not nearly as large as his attacker. Rion’s last parry sent the husky man off the ground, but he landed easily, squarely on his feet, skidding backward slightly through the underbrush.
Rion advanced with a number of martial jabs that landed solidly, but seemed to only serve to push the big man with his military build off balance and away from Rion.
Then the soldier lit into Rion again, this time with a flurry of jabs and a heavy martial kick that caught Rion squarely, sending him backward off his feet, fully—airborne! Serena’s eyes opened wide now. Rion turned in mid-air just before he was about to strike a large tree. Crouched against the tree and apparently unharmed, Rion leapt from the trunk and flew toward the big man like a shot.
Serena could not believe what she was seeing!
The man dodged, but Rion caught his arm, whirling both men into yet another flurry of martial jabs and kicks. The last kick seemed high to Serena, as if the man were attempting to aim for Rion’s head. Rion easily caught the fast move, lifting the man’s leg so that it flew harmlessly over his head, but then Rion gripped and turning the big man in a way that summersaulted him into the air. A moment later the big man hit the ground, somehow in a perfect landing crouch as if he were some kind of martial acrobat.
Serena’s stopped struggling to watch a kind of mortal combat she had never in her life dreamed humanly possible.
The huge man had landed next to where he had piled is clothes. Slipping his hands around the waist of his folded pants, he drew several small throwing blades between his fingers. Serena doubted that Rion could see what was happening, the move happened so quickly.
Be careful Rion! She called out in her thoughts.
The big man now let the tiny blades fly with astonishing speed. Serena hand never seen someone move so fast before. The blades sped toward Rion with the force of bullets. But somehow Rion was able to dodge and slip between the blades, deflecting them away with something unseen that she couldn’t see.
With Rion deflecting his attack, the big man became even more enraged. He rushed at Rion like a charging bull, grabbing Rion by the waist and knocking the both of them onto the ground in a tumbling heap. Serena couldn’t see everything that was happening but the big man was suddenly soaring upward, flailing his arms and legs as if unbalanced and out of control. Rion leapt from the ground, and from some ten or twenty feet in the air caught her descending and still flailing assailant with a solid martial kick that rocketed him down into the ground! She watched Rion turn in mid air to land squarely on his feet, facing the big man again as he tried to recover from the heavy blow that had landed him at the base of the tree. Rion wasted no time in leveling a furious assault against the man as he staggered to his feet, trying to fight back. But Rion continuously knocked him back, again and again, against the huge tree without mercy. Serena could see the big man trying to block, trying to counter punch and fight back, but under Rion’s heavy barrage of punches the man looked as if he were barely able to stand. Rion bounced the big man again and again back hard against the big tree. Bruises were forming all over him and blood now trickled from his face and mouth. Serena heard the sound of cracking bone as ribs gave way to the unrelenting onslaught.
When the big man slumped dazed against the tree, Rion moved back slowly, watching his movements, studying him carefully.
Suddenly the burly man lunged at Rion again!
Serena wasn’t exactly sure what she saw next. Something blurred or shimmered around Rion’s fists as he struck the huge man running toward him with the speed of a locomotive. The assailant rebounded away from Rion like train hitting the side of a cliff. The big man stuck the tree behind him with a heavy crack of splintering wood echoing through the woods, sending large splintered chunks of the massive oak everywhere, and shaking the tall tree all the way to its canopy.
The big man slid down the side of the sturdy oak, darkly staining the now exposed inner light wood of the tree red as he slumped to the ground unmoving.
Rion studied the crumpled mountain of a man for long moments, his open palms still set from his telekinetic martial attack.
Satisfied the battle was over, Rion turned his attention to Serena and quickly removed the cloth from her mouth.
“Rion!” she breathed weakly.
“Shhhh. Don’t talk. Just breathe.”
There was a clacking of metal as the cuffs broke apart from her wrists and ankles. Rion lifted Serena to her unsteady feet and they embraced as he buried his face into her hair. She was trembling wildly as he tried to calm her.
“It’s okay, Angel. You’re safe. I’m here,” he soothed. “There isn’t anyone in the world who can harm you now. I’m here.”
Rion’s words were immensely comforting. Despite her fear and trembling, something within her spirit began to softly relax; she could somehow feel Rion again, all over inside her feelings. Calming her. Quieting her spirit. She pulled him as close as her weakened arms could, holding onto him until her trembling all but subsided and much of her strength returned.
She pull back to look at him. Rion’s face was wet from his eyes welling. His all too narrow rescue of her had settled hard within him.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his hand pushing her hair away from her face. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. He didn’t hurt me. You got here just in time.”
Rion untucked and pulled off the white mock turtleneck he was wearing and slipped it over her.
“Gods, Serena
, I’m sorry. I should have known. I’m so sorry.”
“That was—” she breathed still trembling slightly, “really close, Rion.” She looked into his eyes, with streaks quietly running down his face. “The question is—are you okay?” She dried his face with her fingers, her hands half covered by the long sleeves of his shirt she was now wearing.
“Rion!” she suddenly realized, the fog lifting from her mind. “How did you find me?!”
“Never mind, I’ll tell you later. I’m just glad I found you in time.” He pulled her close. He wasn’t about to tell her that someone had somehow disposed of her Dominion bodyguards. Rion had a pretty good idea of just who would have been capable to doing so.
Serena’s thoughts of the morning with agent Spencer returned. Her knight in shining armor was about to be arrested. Her thoughts were only momentarily conflicted. Rion had just rescued her from what would have been an ugly, evil death. Whatever scoundrel he might be, she owed him––something.
“Rion, the police.”
“What police?”
“I got a visit from the police this morning, federal agents,” she admitted. “Homeland Security. They said that you were under investigation and that you were about to be arrested for hacking. They said I should stop seeing you.”
Rion frowned. He nodded. What he had feared most was now happening. He pulled back to look at her. Serena could see that the emotion of almost losing her had been replaced with one of determination. Rion suddenly didn’t care anymore about his cover. He now damned every Cardinal rule in the book.
“Serena, it’s not safe for you here anymore,“ he said urgently, looking into her eyes. “I don’t have the time to explain everything to you right now, but your life is in terrible danger. There are people who are actively trying to hurt you now. Nowhere is safe for you now. No one will be able to protect you. Not campus security, not the police, not even the military,” Rion nodded in the direction of her still unmoving assailant. “I’m the only one who can protect you now. You have to come with me.”
“Come with you? Where? I can’t just leave.”
“Serena! You have to trust me.”
“Rion, I don’t know you. I can’t just—” Serena’s mind recalled the words of agent Spencer, about how many people, including girlfriends, Rion had murdered. Rion felt her trepidation.
“Serena, listen to me. Yes, I break laws. Yes, I have warrants out for my arrest all over the world issued by people who don’t even know who I am. But it’s not the police who really want me. There are people far more powerful and far more dangerous than the feds. I know you think the police are the good guys here, but trust me when I tell you, they’re not.” He looked deeply into her eyes, “I’m asking you to trust me instead.”
Serena began trembling again. “I don’t know if I can do that, Rion,” she admitted. “You’re really asking a lot.”
“I know. I am. But, Serena, think about this; would the police really just show up and tell you not to be with me because I’m being investigated? Give you details about an ongoing investigation like this? A major investigation that has been attempting to apprehend a notorious hacker? Really? Does that make any sense to you?!”
Serena thought for long moments, “They said they were trying to protect me from you.”
“So they give away the details of an ongoing investigation to a civilian. Completely blow their cover? Just before some eminent arrest? Does that make any sense to you?”
She thought for a moment and then shook her head.
“These people, Serena, are not just after me, they’re after you now.”
“But I didn’t do anything—” she complained.
“It’s not what you did, it’s who you are. What you’re about to become. These people don’t care about you. And they don’t care that I’m hacking networks. They simply want people like you and me dead. And they’ll use anyone or anything they can to get rid of us. I’m sure they were planning on using you to get to me—until they found out who you are.”
“I don’t know what that means, Rion. I’m just a girl going to school.”
“No. Not any more. You’re more than that, Serena. Now that they know what you are, you’re a threat to them. And now they will stop at nothing to see both you and I, dead. They want to kill us, just like they killed my parents.”
A wave of horror suddenly took hold of Serena, “Oh my God! Rion! You didn’t tell me your parents were murdered!”
He nodded. “I didn’t tell you on purpose; to protect you. But now the same people who murdered my parents are aware of you. These people are above the law Serena; they use the police, the feds, even the military as their pawns.”
“Rion who are these people? Who’s after you?”
“I’m sorry, Serena. I’ve pulled you into a world you have no idea even exists. These people are as cunning as they are ruthless. They leave nothing to chance. I can’t go into every detail right now, but they want me and others of my family out of the way. And now—that includes you.”
Serena drank in Rion’s words. What he said made some sense out of the events of the last few days; but who could, she really trust now?
“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted shaking her head.
“Then let me offer a suggestion—”
“Please!”
“Let me protect you. Like I did here. Trust me with your life for just a few more hours; give me a chance to explain myself; let me show you who I am.” Rion paused looking into her eyes. But she still looked and felt very reticent.
“Serena, if at any time you want to leave, you can. It will probably destroy me; but I’ll bring you back to your dorm and you’ll never see me again. Ever. You have my word; whatever that is worth to you at the moment.”
Once again Rion’s words made sense to her. Serena nodded her head. “Alright,” she agreed. She moved into Rion’s arms as he once again buried his face into her hair. She felt his strong arms gently around her; felt him exhale in relief.
Trusting Rion was easy. But looking at the heavily bruised and bloodied mercenary lying still on the ground; that gave Serena real worry of just what this mysterious family of his was capable of.
19
S erena’s eyes drew open quickly. She found herself lying on top of Rion’s bed looking up at the fine wood tray ceiling of his bedroom. Either she had just blacked out, or the harrowing memory still fresh in her mind was all just an ugly, vivid dream. No. No, it was no dream. It had all just happened—but, how did she get here? In Rion’s apartment? She sat up. She felt clean and freshly dressed in some nice new jeans and layered shirts she knew she had never owned before. But the clothes fit well and looked like something she would definitely buy and wear. She could see Rion standing in the bedroom, not far away from her, looking out the windows like a sentry.
“Hey—” she said.
He turned with a new smile. Moving to her, he took a seat next to her on the bed, one leg folded under himself. He reached out, and took hold of her hand.
“What happened? How did I get here?”
“You were pretty upset about that thug attacking you. I thought you might feel better after a rest. I—” Rion hesitated. “put you to sleep for a while and brought you back here.”
“You put me to sleep? How?”
“I have my ways, Serena. Just like I took out that thug. Let’s just leave it at that for now.”
She shook her head. “Ohh, my gosh. It all feels like it was a really bad dream.”
“I wish it were just a bad dream.”
She noticed he had changed clothes as well. The two of them matched in their casual light denim jeans and boots with Rion now wearing a black muscle shirt that hid nothing of his fine build. He had dressed her in a snug black top that hugged her curves as well.
“Rion!” she suddenly remembered her conversation with agent Spencer. “They know where you live!” She alarmed placing her hand on his arm. “I told them. They’ll find us here.”
&nbs
p; He chuckled softly. “They’ve known for a long time where I live, Serena. They can’t touch us here; and they know that.”
“They can’t arrest you—I mean us?”
“Here? No a chance.”
“I don’t, understand. First we’re running and now we’re staying here where they can find us?”
“I know. I’m confusing you.”
“Totally.”
He stood up from the bed and helped her up as well. “You slept through lunch. Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
She followed him into the kitchen. “You should tell me more about this family of yours and what kind of danger I’m in.”
“I agree. What would you like to know?”
“Everything.”
Rion chuckled. “That’s kind of a tall order,” he assured.
“I apparently have all day,” she assured.
Rion chuckled. “How about I give you the thirty-thousand foot view for starters?”
“Okay.” She stood at the bar-height counter, watching him fetch a snack from the refrigerator.
“Serena, I’m part of a very reclusive family—a long time ago we would have been called a race, when there were a lot more of us. We have a very long history, not just old, but ancient.”
“You mean like the Jews?”
“Yea,” Rion nodded, “exactly like that. Only much older. Our recorded history well predates any of the ancient civilizations you’ve ever heard of, including the Levant.”
“I’ve never heard of them.”
“Most people haven’t. The Levant is an area around the eastern shores of the Mediterranean—Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece. Those peoples were building farming settlements around twelve-thousand B.C. My people have a written history that well predates those settlements.”
“Your family does not have written history that goes back that far—do they?” she challenged. “The Earth isn’t even ten thousand years old.”
Rion nodded with a grin. “That would be Dominion theology. Thank you very little Apostle Connor.”
Interra (Awakened Series Book 5) Page 18