From the Ashes

by Angela White

  Kyle studied the enemy next, picking out details, as Garret was no doubt doing with him. The hunters carried extra ammunition in wide straps across their shoulders instead of hips, and their holsters rode high. It was designed for fighting while moving through these sewers, Kyle realized. It kept the most important tools above the water. These men were fighters and survivors, but they weren’t like Safe Haven’s defenders. Garret’s crew took what they wanted and left only destruction in their wake. Adrian’s army did just the opposite.

  Unlike the tunnels they’d come in through, the Major’s route went through his bunker of supplies. Very near to where Conner had taken them, it told Kyle that the kids hadn’t been down here in a long time. The man leading these hunters wouldn’t have left any food, water, ammo, or buckets of other goods to be stolen.

  The underground bunker that had obviously once been a utility room and bomb shelter was stacked floor-to-ceiling around the walls, leaving narrow paths for the passing men to traverse. With a burden over his shoulder, Kyle did the best he could not to disturb the stash, but he marked where it was. If possible, they’d be back for it when this was over.

  Thunk!

  As they moved out of the bunker, Kyle caught sight of the shelter door, and recognized recent modification marks. That heavy steel barrier would probably lock upon closing and trigger an alarm topside. Clever.

  Thump!

  Two mean laughs hit Kyle’s ears, and he shifted to be ready. “How much farther?”

  “Why?” Garret sneered scornfully. “Tired already? I thought you were his killer.”

  Kyle grinned back as if they were having high tea. “Oh, I am. And, if they mishandle his son one more time, you’re gonna have proof of it. Sooner than you’ve planned for, I’d guess.”

  Garret glanced at the two suddenly nervous men and the bloody boy, then back to Kyle.

  “You understand he lied, right? Betrayed you all?”

  Kyle didn’t answer because it didn’t matter.

  Garret frowned. “Carry them both.”

  Kyle immediately turned around to do just that.

  Surprised by the boldness, the two bounty hunters carefully loaded Conner’s body over his other shoulder, and didn’t meet the mobster’s eye.

  Kyle began breathing in and out in steady breaths, and resumed matching the pace of the marching convoy.

  Garret laughed. “Once we wash Adrian’s stink off of you, there might be a job offer.”

  The Major stopped laughing and all friendliness vanished from his tone. “Or a set of slugs, just to be sure you can’t follow. That choice will be yours to make.”

  Kyle didn’t respond to the prompt. When Adrian woke, there would be hell to pay, and the Major would be responsible for the bill. If Garret knew Adrian, then he already had that information.

  Garret came back up the long line, and Kyle openly eyed the shotgun on his back, and then the full belt of knives, clubs, and guns. “Jumpy?”

  Garret laughed without offense. “Yes, and you know why, don’t you?”

  Kyle kept quiet. Of course, he knew. Garret was scared of dying at Adrian’s hand.

  You should be, Kyle thought, breathing deeper. But it’s the witch you won’t see coming. Angela won’t stand for this.

  3

  “Come on!” Kevin whispered angrily. “We’ll lose them!”

  “That’s not everyone.” Kenn didn’t say the others probably weren’t alive. The fact that they hadn’t heard any gunshots was good.

  Adrian’s bloody form had angered them, as had Angela’s unconscious body, but for both of AWOL Eagles, it was the careless handling of Conner by those in the rear that was enraging. They tossed him over shoulders, bumped his arms and legs into the walls, and snickered. They clearly hated the boy, and it made the Eagles fill with determination to see that they paid for it. Kenn and Kevin didn’t understand Conner had betrayed them, but it wouldn’t have mattered to them wither. He was Adrian’s son. That made him valuable in their hearts.

  Kenn and Kevin eased back into the kids’ area, glad to find their men alive, but confused as to why they were. Whatever the team had been hit with was strong. None of the men responded and while they could probably hole-up here and wait, Kenn was sure that Adrian didn’t have that long to live. The man in charge here had already beaten Adrian and left his men for the predators. The fate planned for him couldn’t be any better.

  “If you leave them here, the vines will come. They’re quite bloodthirsty.”

  Both men spun around, guns coming out.

  Cara didn’t move, but her snakelike demeanor was enough to startle them both, even after they recognized her under the new fighter’s clothes.

  Cara stuck her tongue out and sniffed. “Smells like good meat in here.”

  Kenn blinked in confusion. Sniffed?

  Cara closed her mouth, still yearning for what she couldn’t have. She saw Kenn’s eyes on the golden scales in her hair and explained, “We are waterproof this way.”

  “We could use some help.”

  Cara snorted at Kenn’s request, pupils reddening. “You need a miracle.”

  Kevin followed his instincts. He had a good idea why she had come prepared for battle. “So does Conner.”

  Cara stiffened, paling in near panic. “Can you save him?”

  Kenn silently thanked fate. “Yes.”

  “You’ll owe me. I will be saving many lives.”

  Kenn wasn’t about to argue that point. “Name your price.”

  Cara looked at the bodies and then back to Kenn. This time, there was greed and lust warring for room. “We’ll take them to the park and cover them with netting. After that, we’re leaving this city.”

  “The Major probably thinks you’re already gone,” Kenn guessed, not immune to the way she was admiring his body. “Since you’re the one who betrayed Conner and his kids, right?”

  “Yesss, well, the Major is on a need-to-know basis with us now.”

  Kenn chuckled. “Fair enough.”

  Cara’s face lit up with raw hunger. “Again!”

  Kenn didn’t have time for the games. “Now or after…Cara, was it?”

  She shuddered at the sound of her name on his lips and forced herself to breathe. “Now. If you die during, I’m already paid.”

  “And how do I know you’ll keep your word?” Kenn questioned.

  Cara whistled, and the sound of footsteps came. Women in shiny snakeskins began to fill the room, and Cara indicated the fallen men. “Take them to the park and hide. Valuable cargo, not for eating.”

  The women muttered and grunted, but dutifully began picking up burdens and taking them out.

  Kenn and Kevin both frowned.

  Cara saw their worry and shook her head. “We are not starving, because we’ll eat what others won’t. It means they can’t sell them to the other residents for food.”

  Kenn wasn’t amused. “And when your food source runs out? What will the snake women eat then?”

  Cara stared back with a dark, unblinking gaze that was almost hypnotic. “Each other, of course.”

  Kenn’s stomach flipped and he forced it back to watch their men be taken out.

  The trousers and gray shirts covered strong, lean arms that didn’t strain under the weight of the men they were carrying and Kenn wondered if the snake meat might be doing more than causing physical mutations. Was it giving them strength as it merged with their DNA? Even their hair was thick, thigh-length brown and black braids on most of the females, and healthy. Kenn made a note to talk to Adrian about it when this was all over.

  Cara took a step closer, ignoring Kevin and her busy girls. “Satisfied?”

  Kenn sent his mind to the last time he’d stolen a moment with Tonya, and then been interrupted.

  “No, I’m not.” He lowered his voice, trying to emulate Adrian’s magic and help get himself in the mood. “But you will be.”

  Cara smiled, keeping her tongue in her mouth, and Kenn saw the woman she had been befo
re. Not much compared to Tonya, the snake leader still held a powerful appeal with her sinewy body and determination to get what she wanted. She motioned toward a smaller, narrow door that led into a closet of some kind.

  “Go with them men.” Kenn waved at Kevin. “If she doesn’t burn me up, she’ll drop me off.”

  Kevin moved away from them in relieved revulsion. He didn’t think he could have made that choice. She’d actually sniffed, with her tongue. Yuck!

  Kenn waited until they were alone, forcing his mind and body to work together. This wouldn’t be hard compared to some of the things he’d done before the war.

  Hell, Kenn thought, watching her drop the dusty coat to reveal soft curves and flawless skin. I might even like it. He was always up for something new and exotic.

  “Are you for rent, as well?”

  Kevin flinched back out of reach, shaking his head at the tall woman with the snake tattoos along her exposed legs. “He’s not for rent like some item you could lease from a store! He’s paying a debt.”

  The woman smiled knowingly, showing beautiful teeth and a long tongue. “He’s bartering our servicesss. I’d like to have yours.”

  Before Kevin could say no, the woman held out a small pouch. “Be sure.”

  Kevin stared at her. “Why don’t you guys have men? Not all of them were taken in the draft, right?”

  Nuna jerked at the alert observation, but didn’t lie. “They involuntarily joined the Major’s army. And never came back.” The woman’s demeanor grew cold. “And now, we allow no males to live among us.”

  She went toward the front of their walking convoy. “Think about my offer.”

  That type of confidence said they needed whatever she had given him, and Kevin tried very hard not to peer into the pouch. He didn’t want to have to pay for it.

  He caved quickly.

  Kevin gently pulled the object out, mind flying along a hundred paths. It was a key. The one to wherever the Major would put their other team members?

  “It opens the back door of Garret’s compound,” Nuna confirmed.

  “Holy hell!” Kevin blew out an unhappy breath, looking down at his groin. “Get ready, dude. We’re as stuck as Kenn is.”

  Ahead of him, the tall woman laughed in anticipation.

  4

  “Adrian?”

  Angela leaned closer, willing him to wake. She’d already healed his wounds, unmindful of the audience of cameras and guards, but he wasn’t responding. “Adrian!”

  Sharper, it still didn’t pull him up from the drug and fist-induced sleep. She did what she knew would work. I need you!

  The call rang through the cell and then the compound, drawing attention and urges to come running.

  But from Adrian, there was only silence.

  “He won’t wake for another hour,” a voice called over the intercom. “Stop disturbing the others.”

  Angela started to ask what others and realized she knew. “I need to pee.”

  Laughter rolled over the radio. “So go on.”

  Angela flipped the finger toward the voice box, and more amusement greeted them. Under it, was hatred and fear. Their guards didn’t like this duty. Why?

  Angela worked on it as she studied their cell for weaknesses and tried not to think of the team that had been left behind. Garret had ordered them all darted in case he needed them for leverage, but now that Adrian was in custody, they were expendable. Angela was sure Garret had considered shooting them right then, but it would torture Adrian to think of them tied up and helpless to avoid the snakes.

  Angela turned to find Kyle awake, watching her in concern. She’d let him sleep and tended Adrian when she came to. Conner, she hadn’t seen.

  “I was trying to wake him.”

  Kyle pushed up against the wall. He had been darted as soon as he put the bodies down and he peered around groggily. The cell held four bunks, both tops empty as Angela paced the damp stone floor.

  I’m not sure if they have our thoughts covered. I’m going to send another call and find out.

  Kyle trusted her judgment. He only had the basics down with Adrian when it came to magic. Kyle had witnessed the pleasure on Garret’s face as Adrian dropped to his knees, but in that bald head and heavy duty gear, Kyle had recognized the ability to cause chaos. Like Adrian, the Major was a leader, but his casually wrinkled trench coat and long fingernails exposed an important difference. Adrian led by example, while Garret reigned over his men with fear. That meant he was flawed and beatable, despite the odds.

  “You can only do it one more time, and then Major Garret will have you darted again,” the voice on the intercom warned. “Use it wisely.”

  Angela snapped her mouth shut and resumed her pacing. The cell had clearly been a basement room at one time, and the welds on the bars looked too solid to waste time on. Two bunk beds made a holding area for four people, one that had only a heavy cage door that appeared to be electronic. She would have to blow them open when the fighting started.

  Kyle assumed Angela was busy building a wall so they would be able to communicate, and kept quiet.

  Angela paced faster, mentally pushing.

  Bang!

  Angela and Kyle both jumped at the nearby gunshot.

  The intercom crackled. “I killed him for trying. I’ll do the same to the next one.”

  Angela pushed aside the guilt. “Line ‘em up, baby. I hate you, and they mean nothing to me.”

  Another chuckle rolled over the intercom, but now, it was laced with respect. “The Major wants you monitored.”

  Angela shrugged. “Don’t really like the Major, either...Harold, is it? What if you and I blow this place, together?”

  Now there was a low growl, and a tense chuckle. “He said you’d be dangerous, but I think he’s underestimating. The next shift is female. Good luck.”

  Angela sighed in resignation and resumed her furious pacing. She hated being caged. You’re up, stripper. Win us a friend or two for the fight.

  Kyle burst out laughing. He couldn’t help it. They were in an ugly situation, and she wanted him to strip for their guards. It was better than priceless. It was one for the Eagle table. “Should I hum or something?”

  “Maybe.”

  Kyle stopped laughing slowly, thinking he hadn’t felt this good in a long time. It was a bit worrisome. Shouldn’t he be upset?

  “It’s from being so close to both of us for so long,” Angela explained. “Things rub off.”

  She gave him a quick hand gesture. I can’t get another reader killed. Will you carry it for me?

  “Yes.”

  I’m going to connect us, show you what I did. And then step… Angela stiffened, moaning. “Damn it!”

  Kyle already knew. “They brought Conner, right?”

  Angela no longer bothered to talk silently. “Kill them, boy! Leave us!”

  No chuckle over the radio, but light scorn lined the relief. “He knows his place. Conner’s been very useful.”

  “Deals made to save those kids are not his guilt to carry!” Angela shouted. “You hear me, Conner? There are no rules in war!”

  Angela slung herself onto the bunk and hid her satisfaction when Conner’s startled presence began cautiously asking her what he should do. He’d expected hatred because he had aided the enemy, and the enemy had counted on that keeping them apart, but she’d flipped it around on them and given him absolution. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her now.

  5

  “I’ll do that again, for information.”

  Cara, who’d gotten what she came for and was only glad it was over, denied him, “Your questions are paid.”

  Kenn grunted in relief. It would be a long time before he didn’t shudder at the sound of a snake. Instead of moans or groans, or even screams, she’d hissed as she climaxed.

  “What do you know about the Major?”

  Cara leaned against the damp wall lovingly, stealing the sensation to take with her as their people fled into the ar
id wastelands of the west. “Everything. He likes my noises.”

  Kenn flushed at the bluntness. “I’m sorry if I offended–”

  “Sssave it!” Cara glowered. “I needed the seed, not the man.”

  “Why?”

  Her face slowly lost the anger. “Our people are mutating too quickly. We need babies who are half-breeds or we will die out.”

  Kenn took that in with a grimace, but didn’t protest. He’d suspected it, just hadn’t wanted to deal with himself. He didn’t like kids, so it wasn’t a terribly hard choice, but if he thought about it too much...

  Cara sensed he might decide against letting her leave here alive if he dwelled on it, and shoved them into another direction. “Garret was Adrian’s best friend.”

  Kenn gaped. And then began placing pieces. That’s how the Major had been able to capture Adrian so easily. He knew him, knew his ways.

  “They served together, right?” Kenn guessed, sense of doom growing.

  “For years. Until Adrian met Shannon.”

  Kenn settled back, watching Cara slide back and forth along the rock as if she wanted to crawl up it.

  “She didn’t have power, but she was a pure soul, which is rarer. The Major drugged her, and her parents forced a marriage.”

  “She and Adrian were dating?”

  “No. Adrian and Garret were her security detail. The Major said Adrian was obeying the rules and waiting for the job to be finished.”

  “But Garret didn’t.”

  “No. After it came out, Adrian split their team up and disappeared. For three years.” Cara’s voice lowered. “When he came back, he kidnapped Shannon, seduced her, and sent her back six months later–pregnant.”

  Kenn fit another set of pieces into place. “That’s step daddy, and Conner’s been working with the enemy the whole time.”

  Cara showed the first sympathy Kenn had seen from her.

  “Conner loves those damn kids. He’d betray his father to save them.”

  That sent Kenn’s mind into another possible outcome that he didn’t want to face. “We gotta go.”

  Cara pointed the way toward the park.

  “Kevin! Let’s go!” Kenn shouted. He had heard the rookie laboring not long after finishing his own revolting chore.