He was right. It was the first time Kala had witnessed a regular old human actually hurt Asmodeus. Turner had used the tranq gun filled with Roberta’s mojo juice and injected it into the Demon. Asmodeus turned into a crying baby, giving Kala enough time to escape. Kala had felt like she had a fighting chance after that. It made sense that her mind would take her here.
Maybe Turner had some more toys she could use.
Kala couldn’t stop staring at Talan’s broken form.
Even though she logically told herself that Talan was still alive, part of her doubted Cronus. What if Talan really was dead? It bothered her more than she liked. The guy had been her backup throughout this whole ordeal. She may not share the same feelings for him that he had for her, but Kala cared about him. Talan had helped her when he shouldn’t have and saved her when it would have been safer for him to let her die.
Only one person could help Talan now.
Owen.
“I need to get someone here who can help,” Kala announced to Turner.
Turner waved to her encouragingly. “By all means. You can come and go as you please apparently.”
“I don’t think I have to. I think I can bring him here.” Kala had no idea how to pinpoint her foster father and teleport to him. She figured that whole mind-speech thing that Roberta did would work better. She just needed to figure out how to use it with someone besides Roberta. “I have to concentrate.” Kala turned away from Talan’s body.
Now what?
Kala closed her eyes.
Owen? Kala felt like an idiot. Why did she think this would work?
Because it works with Roberta. Kala scolded herself.
And when was talking to herself a good idea?
Kala wanted to scream. She needed Owen and she had no idea how to connect with him, let alone contact him in any other form.
OWEN! Kala screamed in her head.
“I’m here, Kala.”
Kala opened her eyes. Standing in front of her was her foster father, Owen. She fell into his arms, relief flooding through every vein. Kala only recently found out that Owen was a Grigori angel like Talan, but it didn’t make her look at him any differently. Owen and Linda had saved her life as a foster kid. They were the first two people who ever showed her what it meant to love. Kala might not be related to them by blood, but they were her parents. Period.
Owen’s arms felt like the most comfortable place on the planet right then. Kala wished she could stay there forever. But eventually Owen pulled away to look her in the eye.
“What is it, Kala? Are you okay?” His face was all concern.
Kala nodded behind her at Talan.
Owen looked over her shoulder and his eyes widened. He hurried to Talan’s body. “Who did this?”
“Cronus,” Kala answered. She couldn’t help but notice Turner’s eyebrow raise at that. Kala admired the fact that Turner knew when to be quiet, not in the sense of being polite, more like he was observing and gathering information. No wonder Talan sought him out. The guy was a sponge.
Owen stared at Kala even more shocked. “How did you escape without Talan to help you?”
Kala turned to Turner. “I’m not sure how much I should say with some of these guys in the room.” She gestured toward the handful of scientists. Sure, they seemed pre-occupied, but if just one of them was a spy for Clifton – or worse a Demon – Kala didn’t want to say too much.
Turner shrugged, not concerned. “They’re loyal only to me. You can say anything you like.”
Kala wasn’t convinced. “You can’t guarantee that.”
Owen gave Turner a knowing look. “Yes, he can.”
Kala looked at Owen, surprised. “You know something I don’t?”
Owen said pointedly, “Let’s just say these workers couldn’t say anything even if they wanted to.”
“Magic?” Kala asked. Maybe Roberta had put them in some kind of worker-bee spell. It would explain their drone-like behavior.
Owen nodded. “Something like that. The point is you can trust them. Now, tell me what happened with Cronus?”
“I’m not sure.” Which was the truth. Kala still wasn’t positive what had happened, but she told Owen and Turner everything that took place. Maybe one of them would have some insight.
Turner didn’t look fazed at all, probably because all this talk of Titans and angels wasn’t in his wheelhouse of experience. Turner was a science guy. Magic and mythology was more his wife’s cup of tea. Though from the expression on his face, his curiosity was definitely piqued.
Owen, however, appeared rocked. His eyes didn’t seem like they’d ever blink again. “Kala,” was all that came out.
“What does it mean?” Kala was afraid of the answer, but she had to ask.
“I can’t say for sure.” Owen’s voice was hoarse as if what Kala had said took the wind out of him. “There are so many things about you that are impossible. We’ve just added another one to the list.” Owen managed a smile. “You still have the blade?” Owen asked. Kala pulled it out and he nodded in approval. “You hold onto that. We may need to use it.”
Kala tucked it back into her jacket.
Kala knew Owen’s smile was to make her feel better, but she also knew that he was seriously freaked. He turned his attention back to Talan. “Maybe Talan will know. Let’s put him back together.”
Turner asked Owen, “Is there anything you need from me?”
Owen motioned to Talan’s shredded clothing. “He’s going to need something to wear.”
“Of course.” Turner motioned to one of his zombie-scientists to fetch some clothes.
Owen suddenly looked self-conscious as he turned to Kala. “We’re going to have to strip him down. Maybe you should turn around.”
“I’ve seen a naked man before.” Kala shook her head with a smile. It reminded her that Owen was still her dad and she would always be his little girl.
Owen looked embarrassed. “Right. Good to know.”
But Kala knew it wasn’t really good to know. Owen didn’t want to discuss Kala’s love life any more than she did. He was actually blushing. It was hilarious.
“Let’s get this done.” Kala took the initiative and ripped off what was left of Talan’s clothing. She let Owen take care of the crotch area. No need to mortify him any more than she had to.
In order to cope with the disturbing sight, Kala made herself see Talan as a disassembled mannequin.
At this point, Kala and Turner were just by-standers. Neither one of them could turn away from what was happening.
Owen began at Talan’s feet. His hands glowed a warm hue of gold. When Owen touched the gap between Talan’s feet and the bottom part of his legs, the two fused together. It was quick work after that: each body part reattached with Owen’s glowing hands, until finally all that was left was Talan’s head.
It all came down to this moment for Kala. She trusted Owen’s abilities implicitly, but part of her doubted that Talan could be saved. The concept of a real person being chopped up into pieces and reassembled without a scratch on them was a thing of fiction to Kala. She knew Talan wasn’t human, but that was how she saw him.
Kala held her breath as Owen laid his glowing hands on Talan’s neck.
Talan shot up to sitting position, gasping for air.
Before Kala could think better of it, she reached over and pulled Talan into a hug. Feeling his arms around her made her feel immense relief. He was okay. He was alive.
He was naked.
Kala pulled away and kept her eyes focused on Talan’s. She didn’t want her view roaming to… other places.
Talan apparently could care less about his nakedness. His eyes were alight with his feelings for Kala. No matter how many times Kala put him in his place, Talan couldn’t hide his emotions for her.
And at that exact second, it felt good. Kala had never thought she’d see him look at her ever again. Let alone with so much affection.
“Clothes.” Turner handed Talan a stack of fo
lded attire.
Fatigues and a white t-shirt. It fit perfectly. A little too perfectly. The boy looked good. The shoes were standard issue army boots.
Kala had to admire that a Grigori angel could look like a boot camp grunt.
Talan was on his feet. He embraced Owen and shook hands with Turner.
“We should leave.” Talan took charge. To Turner he said, “Thank you for your hospitality, but this place isn’t safe for Kala.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Three levels above us Clifton is planning an all-out manhunt for Ms. Hicks here. The sooner you leave, the better.” Turner was on the same page as Talan.
Kala asked, “Where to?”
Owen responded first. “Your mother wants to see you.”
That sounded amazing to Kala. The thought of seeing Linda made Kala feel like her heart might be able to start to mend. There was nothing like the healing embrace of a mother.
Kala and Talan agreed.
Owen reached out and touched the two of them.
Nothing.
Kala was having flashbacks from the 5th. What? Did Cronus stop teleporting in the Compound as well?
Talan touched Owen and Kala, trying to use his teleporting power instead.
Nothing.
“What’s happening?” Owen focused on Turner.
Turner was genuinely baffled. “I have no idea.”
Before Kala could truly process her situation…
General Clifton and a team of his men marched into the room.
Their guns were raised and they were all pointed at Kala.
Chapter Fourteen
Clifton’s smug expression made Kala’s skin crawl. “After our last teleporting visitor, I made some changes to our defenses.”
Turner looked impressed. “How did you pull that off, Harry?”
Harry didn’t even look mad at Turner. Their relationship went beyond Kala’s understanding. She could see that she wasn’t going to get any help from Turner though, not when Clifton was standing next to him. He had to protect his own neck.
Clifton shrugged. “You have your scientists, I have mine.”
“I’d like to meet yours.” Turner raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
“I bet you would,” Clifton guffawed.
Watching their exchange was fascinating. But Kala didn’t want to kill soldiers, she just wanted to get out of there.
“You know you can’t hurt us, right?” Kala wanted to wipe the triumphant smirk off Clifton’s face.
The smirk didn’t go away. He didn’t believe her. “I saw the security footage from yesterday’s attack. I know about your shielding technology. And you’re not leaving here until we get it from you.”
Clifton included Turner in his we. The sad part was that Turner knew Talan’s shielding technology was supernatural.
“Good luck with that. He used magic.” Kala loved that it sounded absurd. And she loved that it was true.
Kala couldn’t believe she had been scared of Clifton as her superior. He was such a tool. Of course, the fact that she was an immortal Titan helped curb the fear of ten guns being pointed at her, but still. It was nice standing up to him. He reminded Kala of every bully she’d ever encountered in her life.
As her boss, she had to put up with it.
As a god, not so much.
Clifton didn’t buy Kala’s magic comment for a second. He didn’t live in that reality. He lived in the reality where rival governments were constantly developing new and cutting edge weapons. Clifton thought she was a smart ass (which she was), and he didn’t like it.
“We’re leaving.” Kala turned to Turner. “Where did you get me out last time?” She knew she shouldn’t remind Clifton of the fact that Turner helped her escape, but it was so hard not to want to take him down a few notches.
Turner sighed. “You know I can’t tell you that.”
Kala saw Turner touch the face of his watch. If she hadn’t been staring at him, she wouldn’t have noticed. No one else seemed to. Was he giving her a signal? Was he trying to say something about time? Kala was immortal, so she didn’t have to worry about dying, but the Compound was miles deep and miles wide. There was no way she was getting out of there without help. Kala had limited knowledge of the layout of the Compound. She had only been allowed into a few designated areas. It was a maze that Kala did not have a key to.
“Enough!” Clifton bellowed. “Take them. If they resist, kill them.”
The guy was a fool.
Clifton’s men kept their guns raised as they closed the distance between themselves and Kala.
Kala knew they were just doing their job. She also knew that these soldiers weren’t about to capture two Grigori and a Titan. In military-mode, Kala loved to use any advantage available to her. And being a god was definitely an advantage.
Owen barely moved his hand: Clifton and his men dropped to the floor.
“Okay,” Kala observed. “That was easy.”
“They’re out cold for a few hours.” Owen focused his attention on Turner, who looked quite amused. “A way out?”
“Right.” Turner eyed Clifton’s unconscious body, contemplating. “I’m afraid the escape route Ms. Hicks left through the last time has been closed off. Harry’s security measures. But, since I clearly didn’t realize how fast you’d take care of this situation, I already called for backup.”
As if on cue, Derek entered the room, gun at the ready. Seeing Clifton and his men sprawled on the ground, he lowered his weapon and placed it in its holster. He smiled at Kala. “I knew you had this handled.” Derek recognized Owen and saluted. “Sir. Good to see you again.”
Owen saluted back. “I know you’ve been looking out for my daughter, and I’m eternally grateful.”
“I’m not sure how much I’ve really done to help, but I’ll always have Kala’s back,” Derek responded.
Drawing Derek into a hug, she whispered, “Thank you.” As she pulled away she said, “And teleporting you away was not my idea.”
“I figured. Can you even do that?” Derek treaded on territory Kala wasn’t so sure he wanted to know about.
But she was honest with him. “Apparently so.”
Talan was surprised, and Kala responded, “How do you think I got you out of the 5th?”
“I figured Owen answered Roberta’s call and rescued you,” Talan admitted.
Owen stepped in. “It’s far greater than that, Talan. What Kala is capable of…” he didn’t finish his thought. Kala could tell it was because he was afraid she couldn’t handle it. Such a dad.
“We can discuss my amazing powers later.” Kala glanced at Derek and Turner. “Get us out of here.”
Derek liked orders. He had confided in Kala once that orders made him feel grounded. In their line of work, there was too much chaos in the world and having a chain of command made the terrifying easier to cope with.
Nodding for them to follow, Derek led Kala, Talan, and Owen through the giant research lab to the exit door. Kala remembered coming in through this same door just a few days ago to get away from Asmodeus. She was amazed that Derek knew where he was going since this part of the Compound was a complete labyrinth to her.
Once outside the room, they entered a series of hallways. The walls used the same black metal that most of the Compound was constructed from. Whatever ingredient was in it supposedly made the entire structure invisible to radar. Being that this place housed devices that most of the public was unaware existed, secrecy was the highest priority.
Kala followed Derek closely, with Talan and Owen trailing. Soldiers’ weapons weren’t a threat to the three of them, so they walked with confidence. Derek was the only vulnerable member of their party, but Kala and her two Grigori would keep him safe.
No, the real mystery was how Clifton had managed to prevent teleportation out of the Compound. Clifton saw Asmodeus’s surprise arrival as a weapon, so somehow he had found a way to block supernatural activity without even knowing it. Kala had to find out how. If she could
stop Malaks and Demons from popping in or out any time they felt like wreaking havoc on her, it would be invaluable. Turner would find out. And when he found out, she’d find out.
Turner and Roberta turned out to be strong allies. It shouldn’t be surprising, considering Talan had picked the two of them to train. It just surprised Kala because Turner had been so intimidating when he was her boss. It was amazing how becoming a Titan relieved all fears of Clifton and Turner. Power could do that. Before, with a snap of their fingers, Kala could be dead.
Now, they couldn’t touch her.
Apparently, the only thing they could do was prevent her from leaving.
And after she had just learned to teleport.
Figured.
Several elevator rides and staircases later, Derek steered them deeper into the bowels of the Compound.
“Shouldn’t we be going up?” Kala asked as they entered yet another elevator going down.
“We have to go down to go up,” Derek answered. “Trust me. This is the best way to avoid Clifton and his lackeys.”
“I’m not really worried about them,” Kala admitted honestly. “I just want to get out of here.”
Derek shook his head. “I get that. But I’m still working for Turner and I need to get in and out of here on a daily basis.”
“You’re right, sorry.” Kala hadn’t thought about that.
“No worries. We’re almost there,” Derek informed her.
Kala sighed inwardly. She was so involved in what was happening to her, she hadn’t even considered how Derek was managing to survive. Working for Turner required being at the Compound – and the Compound was half Clifton’s. Of course Derek needed a stealthy way of entering and leaving the high-tech structure.
And it was all her fault.
If Kala had never become the next Atlas, then Derek would still be an elite soldier working for Turner and Clifton. Not one side against the other. There was nothing she could do about that, but it still hurt. Derek was a better friend than she was.
Kala vowed then and there to keep Derek safe at all costs.
Speaking of safe, Kala wondered why the Compound appeared to be deserted. They hadn’t run into a single person on their long trek into the depths of the building. It didn’t shock Kala, since the whole building was a giant security entity, but a part of her was a little surprised at the lack of people.
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